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THE LIFE 

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MAJ.-GEN. GEO. B. MOCLELLAN. 



GENERAL-m-CHIEF U. S. A. 



INCLUDING SERVICES IN MEXICO, ON THE RED RIVER EX- 
PLORATION EXPEDITION, ON THE PACIFIC RAILWAY 
SURVEY, ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Etc. 



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BY LOUIS LEGRAND, M. T>^ 



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BEADLE AND COMPANY, 

NEW YORK: 141 WILLIAM STREET. 

LONDON: 41 PATERNOSTER ROW. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by 

BEADLE AND COMPANY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 

Southern District of New Yorli. 



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INTKODUCTION 



The preparation of this life of General McClellan was called 
for by the fact that no biography of our General-in-Chief has, 
thus far, been given to the public other than meager newspaper 
sketches. 

The General is, as yet, a young man ; but, contrary to the 
prevailing impression, he has had a wide experience in fields 
best adapted to fit him for the position to which fate and the 
voice of his country has called him. What that experience has 
been these pages will testify. 

In the preparation of our work we have been assisted much 
by the kindness of Mr. Van Nostrand, publisher of military 
books, New York, who has placed at our disposal most of the 
works (several of them quite generally unavailable) which, 
furnished the data for this little volume. To Major (now 
Colonel) Delafield and others we are also much indebted for 
hints and memoranda of a valuable character. 

This biography, we trust, will be found to answer the demand 
for the story of his life — in which all classes are now so greatly 
interested. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Ancestry — Birth — Education at West Point — Services in Mexico — 
Battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino 
del Rey, Chapultepec and Mexico — Honors won, ... 9 

CHAPTER II. 

In service at West Point — Prepares manual of the bayonet exercise- 
Construction of Fort Delaware — Service on the Red river exploration 
— Narrative of the expedition — The country — The Witchita mount- 
ains — The Indians — Incidents of adventure and the chase — Results 
of the expedition, ----24 

CHAPTER III. 

Services in Oregon — Exploration of the Cascade mountains — His report 
— Detailed to examine railways — Valuable report, - - - 4A 

CHAPTER IV. 

Appointed on the European Military Commission — History of the 
Commission, 67 

CHAPTER V. 

The reports of the Commission — Major Delafield's report — McClellan's 
report — Its important character — His detail of the operations before 
Sebastopol — His views on the fortification of ovir coasts and harbors 
— His suggestions for an army — Major Mordecai's report, - - 74 

CHAPTER VI. 

Resignation of commission in the United States service — Accepts the 
position of Vice-President and Chief Engineer of the Illinois Central 
Railroad — His excellent management — ^Is chosen General Superin- 
tendent, etc., of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad — Resolves to 
answer the call to arms — Is made Major-General of the Ohio troops 
— The department of Ohio created— His command therein— Organi- 
zation of the Western Virginia campaign — Proclamations to the 
people and troops, 84 

CHAPTER VII. 
The Western Virginia campaign, -89 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Conclusion, ...k9g 



THE LIFE OF 

MAJ.-GEN. GEO. B. MTLELLAN. 



CHAPTER I. 



ANCESTRY — BIRTH — EDUCATION AT WEST POINT — SERVICES IN MEXICO — 
BATTLES OF VERA CROZ, CERRO GORDO, CONTRERAS, CHER0BDSCO, MOLINO 
DEL EKT, CHAPULTEPEC AND MEXICO — HONORS WON, 

George B. McClellan is said to be descended of Scotch 
ancestry. A writer in the " Scottish American Journal" 
says : — " By accounts I have lately received from Kircudbright, 
I learn that General McClelian is a descendant of a very ancient 
and illustrious Galloway family — the McClellans of Kircud- 
bright and Bombie, allied to the ancient ' Knights of Lochin- 
var.' The family were ennobled by Charles I, in 1633, the 
then representative. Sir Robert McClelian of Bombie, being 
created a peer under the title of Lord Kircudbright. The 
last lord of that name died about thirty years ago, in rather 
reduced circumstances, leaving no issue. The title is now 
extinct. The ruins of the old family castle now form the 
most conspicuous object in the ancient burg of Kircudbright, 
on the banks of the river Dee. Many of the deeds of the 
McClellans are still recounted in the legendary lore of the 
district. The name of McClelian has been always associated 
with all that is noble, patriotic and daring, and I am proud to 
think that in the person of the American scion it is still so. 
Sir William McClelian, an ancestor of the above family, also 
fell at Flodden. In point of fact, Camden Grey McClelian, 
tenth Baron Kircudbright, in the peerage of Scotland, died in 
1832, when, for want of a male heir, the title became extinct. 
His widow survives. She was daughter of the late Colonel 
Thomas Gorges. Lord Kircudbright left an only daughter, 
Camden Elizabeth, who was married in 1832, shortly before 
her father's death, to James Staunton Lambert, who also 
survives." * 



10 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

He is the son of the late eminent surgeon, Dr. George 
McClellan, of Philadelphia, in which city he was born, 
December od, 1826. He was educated, to the age of sixteen, 
in the best schools of the city; and, showing such a decided 
leaning, by taste and temperament, to the profession of arms, 
was chosen as the West Point appointee for his congressional 
district— entering the academy in 1842. His proficiency was 
such as at once to mark him for success. He pursued the 
entire course, graduating June 30th, 1846, as second in his 
class — his only superior being Charles S. Stewart.* 

The Mexican war then being in progress, the young 
graduate was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Sappers 
and Miners, and immediately detailed to duty in General 
Taylor's army. His first service was on the march to Vittoria, 
from Matamoras, as pioneer. The service required was an 
arduous one. The opening of roads, the closing of fords, the 
clearing of encampments tasked his great physical energy to 
its utmost. The company was a fine one and soon became 
one of the most noted for efficiency and courage in the army. 
The same pioneer duty was performed on the route to Tampico, 
in Tamaulipas province, one of the principal seaports of the 
State. Commodore Perry anticipated the advance of the 
American Army of Invasion by taking possession of the place, 
which, however, was turned over to the land forces and held 
by them as a base of operations (January 26th, 1847). 

General Scott assumed the command in chief of the Mexican 
campaign under instructions dated November 23d, 1846. The 
island of Lobos, between Tampico and Vera Cruz, was chosen 
for the rendezvous of the forces, land and naval, destined for 
the assault on Vera Cruz. McClellan's company was drawn 
into the new Army of Invasion, and landed on the beach 
among those troops first thrown forward for the investment 
of Vera Cruz. The company was assigned to General Worth's 
division, and from the hour of its landing up to the occupation 
of the city rendered most arduous and valuable service. 

* Among those graduating with him we may mention Charles E. Blunt, 
now Captain of Engineers ; John G. Foster, now Captain of Engineers, 
and was second in command at Fort Sumter; Edward C. Boynton, now 
Adjutant and Quartermaster at West Point ; Trueman Seymour, Captain 
of Artillery— was in Fort Sumter during the siege ; George Stoneman, now 
General of Volunteers (Cavalry) ; Cadmus M. Wilco«, now Brigadier- 
General in the rebel army. 



THE MAKCH ON THE MEXICAN CAPITAL. 11 

Everywhere lines were to be opened, trenches to be marked 
out, batteries to be placed, paths to be defined for the 
reconnoissances — to all of which duties the company was 
assigned until almost exhausted from its ceaseless toils. 
" The best men for the sternest duty," was the maxim of war 
which prevailed in the choice of tlie favorite company for the 
pioneer service in that memorable investment of one of the 
best fortified cities on the American continent.* Colonel 
Totten, Chief of Engineers, in his report mentions the name 
of G. B. McClellan among those ofiicers rendering efficient 
services. He thus referred to the nature of the duty performed 
by the engineers, to which McClellan's company was detailed : — 

" If there be any thing in the position, form, and arrange- 
ment of the trenches and batteries, or in the manner of their 
execution, worthy of commendation, it is due to the ability, 
devotion, and unremitting zeal of these officers. By extra- 
ordinary and unsparing efforts they were enabled, few as they 
were, to accomplish the w^ork of many ; and, so far as your 
(Scott's) operations before this city depended on labors pe- 
culiar to their corps, no words of mine can overrate their 
services." 

It is one of the good results of a West Point education that 
it not only qualifies its men but distributes them with unerring 
sagacity to those branches of the service for which they are 
peculiarly fitted. The engineer corps is comprised solely of 
the most superior students — those taking the highest places in 
their class. The results of the investment of Vera Cruz was 
a test of tiie efficiency of the training and education received 
at West Point. That academy, caviled at much by a certain 
class of civilians who deem military knowledge as easily won 
as a militia commission, is the very heart and head of our 
military body. The militia (or volunteer) system may be the 
great executive power, but West Point science and precision 
are the directing agents. 

After the occupation of Vera Cruz the onward march to 
tlie Mexican capit-al was commenced. The heights of Cerro 
Gordo were bristling with Mexican batteries. Their position 
was one of great strength. Only by outflanking and a 

* For the particulars of this investmeut and siege, see " Life of General 
Scott "-^Dime Biographical Series— pp. 79-82. 



12 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN, 

simultaneous front assault of a bloody character could the 
American commander open the way. Twigg's division, on 
the advance, came up with the enemy April lllh. He deter- 
mined upon an assault on the 13th, after a very careful recon- 
noissance (on the 13th) by the engineers — McClellan, Beaure- 
gard and Lee being of the number detailed; but General 
Patterson, second in command, preferred to await the coming 
up of General Scott. The Commander-in-Chief arrived with 
the reserves, on the 14th, and immediately made a second very 
thorough personal reconnoissance, accompanied by the engi- 
neers. As stated in- Victor's " Life of Scott :" — 

" His keen eye caught the full strength of the most admi- 
rably disposed enemy, and his ingenuity was tasked to out- 
flank those impregnable positions. It was resolved to cut a 
road around the base of the mountain — thus to approach the 
Mexican lines from the flank and rear. Only two days were 
consumed in this most arduous and surprising undertakhig, 
which was not discovered by the enemy until its completion, 
on the 17th, when they instantly opened a heavy fire of grape 
and musketry on the laborers." 

In this labor McClellan was engaged, scarcely sparing an 
hour for needful rest. Captain Lee and Lieutenant Beaure- 
gard (afterward Generals in the Confederate army) were his 
superiors in command, but, it is said, scarcely proved his 
superior in skill or energy. Scott, in his report of the final 
engagement (Report No. 4, Executive Document No. I., 1847) 
says : — 

" The tierra caliente, or low level, terminates at Plan del 
Rio, the site of the American camp, from which the road 
ascends immediately, in a long circuit, among lofty hills, 
whose commanding points had all been fortified and garrisoned 
by the enemy. His right, intrenched, rested on a precipice 
ovei-hanging an impassable ravine that forms the bed of the 
stream ; and his intrenchments extended continuously to the 
road, on which was placed a formidable battery. On the 
other side, the lofty and difficult height of Cerro Gordo com- 
manded the approaches in all directions. The main body of 
the Mexican army was encamped on level ground with a 
battery of five pieces, half a mile in rear of that height toward 
Jalapa. Resolving, if possible, to turn the enemy's left, and 



BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 13 

attack in the rear, wliile menacing or engaging in front, I 
caused daily reconnoissances to be puslied, with a view of 
finding a route for a force to debouch on the Jalapa road and 
cut off retreat." 

The result was the construction of the road referred to, by 
tlie sappers and miners, and a large assisting force from tlie 
ranks. Its plan and construction not only reflected honorably 
on the commanding General's sagacity, but again demonstrated 
the benefits of a West Point training. It is not too much to 
say the road never could have been constructed in the 
absence of those accomplished engineers,* 

General Scott, in his report, complimented Lieutenant 
McClellan, among others, for able. assistance. The Lieutenant 
shared the honors of the final conflict. Detailed, along with 
Lieutenant Tower, to General Pillow's division, he received 
the acknowledgment of that commander for zeal and activity 
in the discharge of his duties. Pillow's brigade was given the 
enemy's right, in the general assault, but was repulsed, with 
heavy loss. General La Vega, the Mexican commander of 
that position, was a man of iron nerve, and, being most 
admirably disposed, was able to retain his place until the 
Americans, having carried the center and left, pressed upon 
his rear, thus compelling his surrender. His battery was 
found to be composed of bronze guns — several of them old 
Spanish pieces of historical interest. They were afterward 
sent home as trophies of the bloody field. 

In the progress to Mexico the sappers and miners were 
ever on the advance, performing arduous and dangerous 
duty. The march of that small host into the heart of an 
enemy's country, every available point being fortified, only 
finds its parallel in the invasion of the same soil by the 
Spaniard of the sixteenth century. But his foes were barba- 
rians, untutored in the art of war, readily imposed upon and 
easily managed ; while Scott's foes were the descendants of 
those early conquerors — were skilled in war, rich in resources, 
countless in numbers and led by Generals of tried valor and 
experience. With ten thousand men — three-fourths of them 
volunteers then seeing service for the first time — cut off from 

* For a full account of the battle of Cerro Gordo, see " Life of Winfleld 
Scott"— Dime Biographical Series— pp. 83, 84. 



14 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

supplies, encountering almost impregnable fastnesses every 
few leagues of the way, Scott slowly but surely forced 
his foes into their last strongholds around their beloved 
capital, there to add to his own and his country's glory by a 
victory which finds no parallel in the annals of modern war- 
fare. The secret of his success lay, first, in the invincible will 
of his men, whose confidence in their leaders was perfect ; 
and, second, in the ability with which he was seconded by his 
officers. None rendered more responsible duty, nor added 
more to the glory of the campaign, than the engineer corps, of 
which McClellan soon became a leading and trusted member. 
The approach to the city of Mexico, over the national 
causeway, was found to be so full of hazard, and so nearly 
impracticable, that Scott again had to resort to his matchless 
strategy. He conceived the idea of striking the city from the 
south instead of the east — a stroke as unexpected by the 
enemy as a thunderbolt from heaven. The American advance 
(Twigg's division) arrived at Ayotla, near the Lake Chalco, 
August 11th, 1847, and was rapidly followed by the divisions 
of Worth, Pillow and Quitman, which took positions around 
the head of the lake. A very bold reconnoiter, August 12th, 
proved that the Mexicans were almost impregnable in front. 
Scott surprised his officers by expressing his determination to 
pass to the south of Lakes Chalco and Xochimilico, to reach 
the Acapulco approach to the capital. This remarkable 
movement (planned, it is said, by the Commander-in-Chief in 
Washington, before his departure, but secretly kept even from 
his staff) was executed August 15th and IGth. The way was 
cleared by the pioneers. Worth's division being on the advance. 
The route lay over an almost pathless country, close along the 
highlands facing the lakes. San Augustin, on the Acapulco 
road, was reached on the evening of August 16th, to the con- 
sternation of the Mexicans, who now saw themselves out- 
flanked and their capital open to the American forces. They 
immediately, however, prepared to dispute every inch of the 
seven miles intervening, and with exceeding rapidity fortified 
each commanding position in a strongly defensible manner. 
At Contreras heights, San Antonio, Cherubusco, were very 
formidable defenses, while the Mexican army, thirty thousand 
strong, occupied the field before the city. Behind them lay 



ATTACK ON CONTEERAS HEIGHTS. 15 

the li eights of Chapultepec, a perfect Gibraltar of strength, 
commanding the plain around and the city itself. The city 
•was circled by strong masonry with all the approaches over the 
causeways very heavily guarded. The Americans were 
forced to carry each of those positions. It was ^Herculean 
undertaking for a force of five thousand men ;* but it was done. 

In the four weeks' campaign which followed, the engineei's 
were detailed to almost unceasing duty. Ever on the recon- 
noissance, or in locating points d'appui of the day, in disposing 
the troops, or in piloting them into the field, they were neces- 
sarily everywhere, covering the entire section of operations by 
their ceaseless movements. Each division had its representa- 
tion from the engineer corps, depending largely upon their 
judgment in the disposition for action. 

It was determined by Scott to push on to the Mexican 
capital by the Acapulco road, leading directly north from San 
Augustin through San Antonio. A reconnoiter by the engi- 
neers showed the latter place to be peculiarly situated for 
defense. It was to be approached only by a causeway, 
bounded upon the eastern side by an impassable morass, Avhile 
upon the west lay the iicilrifjal^ or field of lava, a section of 
country which seemed to have been showered down from the 
heavens, so utterly chaotic and disordered was its character. 
It resembled, in its impassability, the ice-packs of the arctic 
regions. A man could scarcely pick his way through it. To 
horses and guns it bid defiance. The causeway was fortified 
in a series of heavy batteries, which would sweep away an 
approaching enemy like wheat before a whirlwind. Scott 
again resorted to his favorite strategy by resolving to 
outflank it. 

To the left of this field of lava ran another highway reach- 
ing to the capital. This was discovered to be very strongly 
fortified at Contreras heights, which General Valencia held 
with a heavy force, while, along the highway, the Mexicans 
were discovered to be gathering in immense numbers. Worth 
being ordered to feint on San Antonio, the best strength of 

* Scott's force at the final assault, was reduced to about five thousand. 
Sickness and extraordinary service had disabled many; many were 
required to garrison the several conquered positions ; while the list of 
•wounded and killed was large in proportion to the number engaged, but 
truly small considering the ends achieved. 



16 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

the American army was thrown upon Contreras. After the 
first demonstrations by Pillow's and Twiggs' divisions, it 
became evident that Contreras must fall by strategy rather 
than by an assault from the lava-guarded front, where neither 
guns nor^ien could be maneuvered. The first attack by 
Twiggs was made on the afternoon of the 19th. At nightfall 
the troops were drawn off, and, during the darkness, made 
their way to the several positions chosen for the front and 
flank assaults. These were made early on the morning of 
the 20th (August). From the "Life of Scott" we may 
quote : — 

" The night was very dark, wet and chilling, and the march 
over that field of stones was extremely painful ; but it was 
made, in good order and in great silence. By midnight the 
brigades of Smith, Riley and Shields, and Ransom's regulars, 
had obtained their position, and there they stood in the drench- 
ing rain, chilled to the very marrow, until three o'clock, a. m. 
(on the 20th) when the first gray streak of light allowed them 
to move. Riley, Cadwallader and Smith defiled their men into 
the rear of the enemy's batteries, through a ravine, which so 
covered their approach that they came to a halt almost within 
leaping distance of the Mexican guns. All being ready, 
the word ^charge!' broke the stillness of the morning. The 
Mexicans were completely surprised — all their attention hav- 
ing been given to the front and southern approaches, from 
whence Scott had made his first demonstration the previous 
afternoon. The struggle was brief, but extremely bloody, for 
the Spaniards fought with the desperation of despair. Val- 
encia's entire columns soon were leaping from the embank- 
ments, flying toward the city. But Shields, with his volun- 
teers, was ready on the highway, and caught the columns as 
they passed in the net-work of a terrible cross-fire. The 
victory was complete. Scott reported as the results of the 
affair : — ' One road to the capital opened ; 700 of the enemy 
killed ; 813 prisoners, including, among 88 officers, 4 Gen- 
erals ;* 22 pieces of brass ordnance, half of large caliber ; 
thousands of small-arms and accouterments ; an immense 
quantity of shot, shells, powder and cartridges; 700 pack- 
mules, etc., etc., all in our hands.' " 

* Salas, Mendoza, Garcia, and Guadalupe. 



THE BATTLE OP CHERUBUSCO. 17 

In this important and well-earned victory, McClellan acted 
a brilliant part. Detailed to Twiggs' division, lie led it into 
battle on the 19tli. Twiggs said, in bis report : — " Captain 
McClellan, of the topographical engineers, and Lieutenant 
McClellan, of the engineers proper, was sent in advance to 
reconnoiter (on the 19th) with a view of placing our batteries. 
They were soon stopped by one of the enemy's pickets and 
were compelled to return, each having his horse shot." The 
advance was then pressed, and Magruder's light guns were 
soon in full play on the intrenched stronghold of Valencia. 
Twiggs recommended for gallant services (on the 19th), among 
others. Lieutenants Beauregard, McClellan, Foster and others, 
and further said : — 

" Lieutenant G. B. McClellan, after Lieutenant Callender 
was wounded, took charge of and managed the howitzer 
battery with judgment and success, until it became so disabled 
as to require shelter. For Lieutenant McClellan's efficiency 
and gallantry in this affair, I present his name for the 
favorable consideration of the General-in-Chief" 

Securing the camp of Valencia, after its capture on the 
morning of August 20th, Twiggs' division pushed on toward 
the city, and, afler several minor encounters with the flying 
enemy, was, at length, stopped at Cherubusco, by the strongly 
intrenched Mexicans. A reconnoissance by Lieutenants 
Stevens and McClellan discovered the bridge spanning the 
river and approached by the highway, over a deep morass, 
to be protected by a well-constructed Ute du pont, or bridge 
head, composed of bastions with flanking curtains, thus offering 
a formidable face. Its guns swept every inch of the approach 
over the causeway. In the village, a large and solidly built 
church was fortified by a line of earth-works, and by an inner 
face-wall of masonry. In these admirable positions the 
Mexicans, in great force, were prepared to dispute the onward 
march of the conquering North Americans. If Cherubusco 
should be lost the city walls would then only stand between 
the two armies. Against the church, piloted by McClellan 
and Stevens, Twiggs precipitated his entire strength, while 
Worth, having carried San Antonio, came up on the Acapulco 
causeway, to the right, to press the Ute du pont. To the far 
left, Generals Shields and Pierce were closing, in furious 



18 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

conflict, with the Mexican field right, where Santa Anna 
commanded in person. 

These battles of Cherubnsco were bloody afi'airs, but were 
executed with a heroism before which no strength of position 
or numbers of the enemj could stand, Scott's eagle eye 
watched over and directed the three simultaneous conflicts. 
He knew his men ; and victory again crowned the United 
States arras. The church and outworks capitulated, but not 
until the tete du pont had been carried by the impetuous 
bayonets of Worth's splendid infantry after his artillery had 
made severe breaches in the works. The bridge bastions 
being won, its guns were turned upon the church, against 
which Twiggs still was thundering with his infantry and 
artillery. The strong walls of the edifice could not withstand 
this cross-fire, and Twiggs' men were soon within the position 
— its masters. To the left the fight was then raging with 
great fury. 

" Shields had conducted his men to a stern battle-field. 
Santa Anna in person commanded* the field forces, to the west 
and rear of the bridge and church, 7,000 strong, nearly one- 
half cavalry. The volunteers of New York and South Caro- 
lina were, side by side, led on to the charge. Whole com- 
panies were decimated, and leader after leader disappeared 
from the front of the undaunted brigades. Shields and Pierce 
and the gallant Butler rode everywhere over the crimson 
field. Butler fell. Pierce fainted from exhaustion, and Shields 
alone led the battle front. The invincible Rifles came 'to his 
aid, then Harney with his splendid cavalry. Finally Worth's 
and Pillow's men, having passed the bridge, rushed on over 
the highway to the conflict, but it was won : — the enemy was 
flying before Shields' thoroughly infuriated ranks, and Captain 
Kearney, dashing through the victorious columns with his 
dragoons, rode down the Mexicans, up to the very gates of 
the city. 

" Thus closed the day's action. A momentous day it was 
for American arms. Five desperate conflicts— two long, run- 
ning fights— a midnight march in rain and cold— a day of 
hurrying advance :— surely the troops had earned repose. 
Alas ! many had won a sleep which no battle alarums would 
ever disturb. ^ 



CHArULTEPEC. 19 

" The recall was soimdecl. Troops bivouacked on the field 
of battle — each division on its own conquered position. The 
wounded were borne to the church, now the hospital; the 
dead were buried by the fitful glare of camp-fires, while vol- 
leys fired over graves broke the night stillness with their 
painful dirges. By midnight all was hushed into repose. 
Scott alone seemed not to sleep. His commanding form was 
seen gliding everywhere through the gloom, like a good spirit, 
watching over his children. Well he might walk the battle- 
field, for what was to be the fate of the morrow ?" 

McClellan acted a distinguishing part in this most remark- 
able day's work. He was everywhere on the field where 
duty led, performing his part with a coolness and discretion 
which proved that his nature was strung for conflict. 

For his services on the 20th, McClellan was breveted First 
Lieutenant of Engineers. He well deserved the thanks freely 
bestowed by the commanding General, and the rank conferred 
by the Commander-in-Chief 

The city lay in view before the American host. All seemed 
lost to the Mexican cause ; yet, the subtle and unscrupulous 
Santa Anna hoped, by his almost matchless intrigue, still to 
crush his foe, or, at least, to retrieve his unqualified and dis- 
honorable defeats. He asked and obtained a truce — the British 
Consul-General being chosen as the emissary of the Mexican 
authorities. An armistice was consented to by Scott with 
the express understanding that it was only to give time to 
make a treaty of peace. The usual bad ftiitli of the Mexicans 
prevailed to prevent the consummation of the treaty. The 
time allotted (September 7tli) expired and no treaty had 
been made. Scott took final steps for the conquest of the 
city. The Mexican commander had used the interregnum to 
strengthen himself in every conceivable manner. The cessa- 
tion of hostilities doubtless was sought for by him in the hope 
of making such a disposition for a last struggle as would 
insure him a signal victory over the meager army marshaled 
on tne plains before the old city. His duplicity, however, 
availed but little. Scott was too sagacious to be deluded by 
a Mexican's promise. The 7th of September found him pre- 
pared for stern work. His forces lay gathered around his 
head-quarters at Tacubaya, about two and a half miles from 



20 - THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

the city. Before him, twelve hundred yards distant, frowned 
the Mexican Gibraltar of Chapultepec, its height crowned by 
an almost impregnable " Castle," its sides lined with batteries, 
and its main approach from the west protected by very strong 
outworks and intrenched defenses, severally named Molino del 
Bey (King's Mill), Casa de Mata, etc. These were assaulted 
on the morning of September 8th, by "Worth's division, when 
there followed a conflict memorable in the annals of war for 
its obstinate and bloody character. The Mexicans fought 
with thorough desperation, vieing with the Americans in 
valor, and tenacious of their positions to an astonishing 
degree. These outworks and primary defenses were won, 
but at the cost of nearly one-fourth of those engaged, viz. : — 
killed, 116, including 9 oflacers ; wounded, 665, including 49 
officers ; missing, 18 rank and file — a total of 789 out of 3,251 ! 
McClellan was on the field, walking amid the carnage 
unscathed, laboring at the guns, or directing the officers of the 
batteries where to plant their shots with best effect. 

The outworks won were destroyed or dismantled, and then 
deserted — an instance of Scott's strategy which proved how 
profoundly the man was versed in the means and ends of war. 
As he designed to force the city by its western gates, he 
desired to distract the enemy's attention from Chapultepec 
and the western gates' defenses. To this end he made it 
apparent that he was intimidated by the appearance of things 
at Chapultepec, and that he was going to desert its assault for 
an attempt on the southern gates of the capital. He therefore 
drew out his lines in such a manner as to convince the 
Mexicans of the change of his plan. A feint was made, on 
the 11th, with Pillow's entire division and Riley's brigade. 
Quitman was also ordered forward from his position at 
Coyoacan to join Pillow before the Acapulco entrance. The 
strategy took effect, for the Mexican General, conceiving the 
point of attack to have been changed, threw his best forces to 
the section menaced. In the darkness of the night of Septem- 
ber 12th the divisions were withdrawn, and daylight of the 
13th the roar of Huger's siege-guns announced that Chapulte- 
pec Castle was being bombarded. The feint was, however, 
continued by Twiggs, with Riley's brigade and Taylor's 
artillery, thus distracting the enemy as to the real designs of 



THE CAPTURE OP CHAPULTEPEC. 21 

the assailants. At eight o'clock, a. m. (on the 13th), the guns 
had so far breached the walls of the Castle that the bayonet 
assault was ordered. 

" The divisions of Pillow and Quitman were detailed 
for the honorable service, while Worth's division, turning the 
hill, gained tli^ north side to assist in the assault as circum- 
stances might require, by resisting reinforcements from the 
city and by cutting off the enemy's retreat. Pillow's troops 
rushed forward from the now silenced Molino del Bey. They 
pressed forward up the easy ascent, scaling all outworks, and, 
in a brief time, planted scaling ladders against the inclosure 
walls. One loud huzza and the men streamed over — to court 
victory or death. 

" Quitman was given the south-eastern approach. Supported 
by Shields and Smith, he pressed up the declivity, fortified in 
the most efiective manner. Battery after battery was scaled 
and silenced, when Shields, filing to the left with his gallant 
volunteers, crossed the meadows before the Castle batteries, 
entered the outer court, and was, with Pillow's men, in at the 
victory. Quitman's force, delayed by the inch-by-inch fight 
up the hill, arrived to find the American flag floating over 
the Castle. 

" What a shout rent the air from those ancient halls — the 
veritable ' Halls of Montezuma,' the splendid seat of the 
Spanish viceroys ! It rolled over the valley, as if the sky 
was peopled with men and their voices came forth from the 
clouds — so it appeared to those in the valley below. Worth's 
men caught up the jubilante and re-echoed it, wildly and long. 

" Mayer states that ' the onslaught had been so rapid and 
resistless that the Mexicans stood appalled as the human tide 
foamed and burst over their battlements. Men who had been 
stationed to fire the mines either fled or were shot down. 
Officers fell at their posts, and the brave old Bravo, fighting 
to the last, was taken prisoner with a thousand combatants.' 
The victory was entire and complete. The entire hill was in 
possession of the invaders, and the Mexican people, from their 
look-outs in the city, gave up all as lost." 

Santa Anna was astounded at this reverse. He was at the 
southern garita, watching the movements of Twiggs, when the 
American flag, flying from the Castle stafl', at once informed 



38 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

him of the nature of the ruse practiced upon him and of his 
great loss. The Mexicans flying from the hill gathered on 
the plain below, and, closing in column, struck across the 
meadows for the city. Worth's division was there to cut off 
their retreat. Santa Anna, seeing their peril, pushed from 
the gates of San Cosmo and Belen a larg^ body of fresh 
troops, with whom "Worth soon became engaged in terrific and 
close combat. 

Scott, being in the Castle almost at the moment of victory, 
directed the further movements of the divisions from its 
ramparts. Quitman was ordered to quick-march to Worth's 
relief by striking for the Belen entrance, thus calling off a 
portion of the forces pressing Worth. The movement was 
rapidly and successfully executed, and Worth was soon up to 
the iutrenchments on the causeway, around which were 
gathered the dwellings of a fine suburb of the city. From 
the flat roofs of the houses the troops were galled by a fire of 
musketry. The pioneers immediately entered the dwellings, 
and cut their way through building after building until, 
before nightfall, the San Cosmo gate (the custom-house) was 
in possession of the American troops. There they remained 
during the night— thoroughly exhausted with their truly 
remarkable day's fighting. 

The part McClellan performed may be inferred from Scott's 
report, wherein he specially refers to the services of the 
sappers and miners led by McClellan and Lieutenant Smith, 
and adds, of the five Lieutenants of Engineers — Beauregard, 
Steveus, Tower, Smith and McClellan — that, like their Captain 
(Mason), tbey won the admiration of all about them. Worth, 
in his report, said : — " Of the stafi^. Lieutenants Stephens, 
Smith and McClellan, engineers, displayed the gallantry, skill 
and conduct which so eminently distinguished their corps." 

The occupation of the custom-house placed Worth within 
a few squares of the Grand Plaza — the goal of all their hopes 
— around which were the veritable " Halls of the Montezumas." 
But, the gallantry of Quitman's men gave them the honor of 
a first occupancy of the city proper. Their orders were to 
engage the enemy on the Belen causeway, while Worth should 
strike for the heart of the city. Once in the fray the troops 
of Shields (composed of the South Carolina and the New York 



MC CLELLAN S SERVICES AND PROMOTION. 23 

volunteers) were "irrepressible." They burst forward and 
occupied the Belen entrance, within the city, after having 
fought their way through a line of intrenchments thrown 
across the causeway. The Rifles (regulars) were their steady 
and unfaltering support, while the gallant Captain Drum 
served his howitzers with such fearful precision as to drive 
the foe within their last stronghold, the Citadel, a splendid work 
of masonry, from whose fire the division suffered severely up to 
the close of the day. Captain Drum was among its victims. 

Santa Anna took refuge in the Citadel during the afternoon, 
after finding Worth in full possession of the San Cosmo 
suburb. At nine o'clock in the evening he fled from the city, 
a deposed and discomfited chieftain. Mexico had new rulers ; 
she lay at the feet of a conqueror more merciful than her own 
people. 

In the report of the Major commanding the engineers (John 
L. Smith) respecting the services rendered by his corps, satis- 
factory mention was made of McClellan's discharge of duty. 
From that report it appears that the engineers and the sappers 
and miners were employed all the night previous to the con- 
flict on the morning of the 8th, in constructing and planting 
the batteries to operate against the Casa de Mata, MoUno del 
Rey, and the earthworks on the west side of the hill. Lieu- 
tenants Stevens and McClellan, and the sappers and miners, 
were detailed, the report stated, to Worth's division, and 
performed most signal service. McClellan was the first 
officer to push into the city. At three o'clock, on the morn- 
ing of the 14th, with his sappers and miners, he penetrated to 
the Alameda, but two squares from the Grand Plaza. He 
then made the discovery that the enemy's forces had evacuated 
the capital, though he found a great number of cut-throats — 
composed in part of two thousand released convicts — who, 
secreted on house-tops and in buildings, carried on a species 
of assassination which was only stopped by the most rigorous 
measures. 

For the services rendered on the 12th of September 
McClellan was breveted Captain of Engineers — an honor he 
then declined. He was, a few days after, made brevet Captain 
" for gallant and meritorious conduct at Chapultepec and 
Mexico." This honor he accepted. 



24 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

The city was occupied, on the 14th, by the American forces. 
The Mexican army had fled, during the night, as well as the 
National Congress. Scott remained in possession of the 
capital until a treaty was signed by ministers extraordinary, 
which indemnified the American Government for the war by 
the cession of California and New Mexico, and established the 
boundary line of the Kio Grande. This secured, the forces 
gradually withdrew ; and McClellan returned to his country 
bearing the name of a brave man, a skillful engineer and an 
able commander. 



CHAPTER II. 

IN SERVICE AT WEST POINT — PREPARES MANUAL OF THE BAYONET EXERCISE 
— CONSTRUCTION OF FORT DELAWARE — SERVICE OF THBS RED RIVER EXPLO- 
RATION — NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION — THE COUNTRY — THE WITCH- 
ITA MOUNTAINS — THE INDIANS — INCIDENTS OF ADVENTURE AND THB 
CHASE — RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION. 

Returning from Mexico, in command of the sappers and 
miners, he was ordered to West Point. The sappers and 
miners were detailed to perform their various duties of 
trenching, throwing up field-works, laying platforms, pontoon- 
ing, etc., for the instruction of the cadets. The company also 
served on special duty in construction of permanent fortifica- 
tions, or in overseeing laborers. The Captain was thus 
converted into the Jield professor — for which his theoretical as 
well as practical experience well fitted him. 

McClellan remained on duty at West Point until 1851; 
acting not only as Captain of field labors but as instructor in 
bayonet exercise. The want of efiQciency, in the use of that 
important arm, induced him to adapt, from the standard 
French authorities, a manual of exercise for the bayonet, 
which has since become a text-book in the service. The aid 
he rendered, by practice as well as by precept, in transforming 
the bayonet from its old estate to become a weapon of terrible 
efiBciency is acknowledged by the army authorities to have 
been important and significant. It proved not only the 



THE KEU IIIVER EXPLORATION. 25 

versatility of tlie Captain's accomplishments, but showed him 
to possess that insUnctive appreciation of the wants of the hour 
and of the fitness of things which alone distinguish those born 
to command. His future services in organizing the cavalry 
corps of the army and in preparing its manual of instruction ; 
his report on the field operations and materiel of the armies 
of Europe in the years 1855-56 ; his choice as the superintend- 
ing constructor of Fort Delaware; his call to the Red 
River Exploration and Observation Commission ; his senior 
engineership on the coast survey of Texas rivers and harbors ; 
his commission to the chief engineership of tlie survey of the 
western division of the proposed Pacific Railway ; his detail 
to secret service and observation in the West Indies : — all 
conspire to prove McClellan to have been fitted, in an unusual 
degree, for a position in the United States military service. 

The construction of Fort Delaware was prosecuted, under 
his supervision, in the summer and foil of 1851. 

Under date of March 5th, 1853, Captain McClellan was 
assigned to duty on the Red River Exploration Expedition, 
under Captain Randolph B. Marcy, who had, for the three 
previous years, been engaged in tracing the sources of the 
Trinity, Brazos and Colorado rivers, as well as the Canadian 
branch of the Arkansas. Up to 1852, the head-waters of the 
Red river were lying in geographical obscurity. Captain 
Marcy says : — " My attention was frequently called to the 
remarkable fact that a portion of one of the largest and most 
important rivers in the United States, lying directly within 
the limits of the district I had been examining, remained up 
to that late period wholly unexplored and unknown, no white 
man having ever ascended the stream to its sources. The 
only information we had upon the subject was derived from 
Indians and semi-civilized Indian traders, and was of course 
very unreliable, indefinite, and unsatisfactory ; in a word, the 
country embraced within the basin of Upper Red river had 
always been to us a ' terra incognita.' Several enterprising 
and experienced travelers had at different periods attempted 
the examination of this river, but, as yet, none had succeeded 
in reaching its sources. 

"At a very early period, oSicers were sent out by the 
French Government to explore Red river, but their examinations 



M THE LIFE OP^ GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

appear to have extended no farther than the country occupied 
by the Natchitoches and Caddoes, in the vicinity of the 
present town of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Subsequent exami- 
nations had extended our acquaintance with its upper tribu- 
taries, but we were still utterly in the dark in regard to the 
true geographical position of its sources." 

The expedition was ordered by the War Department to 
unravel not only the mystery of the river's sources but also 
that of the country adjacent. It went forth fully prepared 
for its labors, having a fine corps of ofiicers and men of science 
— all protected by a strong guard from the Fifth infantry. 

About the middle of May the Witchita mountains were 
made, when the terra incognita was reached. From that time 
up to the last of July, the explorations were prosecuted with 
success. The courses of streams were defined — new streams 
discovered and mapped— the country and all its peculiar 
features completely studied — the Indian tribes visited and 
"talked" to — thus adding greatly to the physical knowledge 
of that interesting region. To Captain McClellan were spe- 
cially detailed the topographical duties of the expedition. 
That they were well performed the results testify. 

We shall quote from the expedition report made by Captain 
Marcy, such portions as possess both a personal and general 
interest. The extracts will not detract from the unity of our 
biography, since Captain McClellan was a chief actor and a 
responsible director of the expedition : 

"•May 18. — We encamped upon a small affluent of Cache 
creek, where, on our arrival, we found no water except in 
occasional pools along the bed ; however, in the course of an 
hour some of the men who had gone a short distance up the 
creek came running back into camp and crying, at the top of 
their voices : ' Here comes a plenty of water for us, boys !' 
And, indeed, in a few minutes, much to our astonishment and 
delight (as we were doubtful about having a supply), a perfect 
torrent came rushing down the dry bed of the rivulet, filling 
it to the top of the banks, and continued running, turbid and 
covered with froth, as long as we remained. Our Delawares 
regarded this as a special favor from the Great Spirit, and 
looked upon it as a favorable augury to the success of our 
enterprise. To us it was a most inexplicable phenomenon, as 



TRACES THE IOOtH DEGREE OF WEST LONGITUDE. 27 

the weather for the last tliree days had been perfectly dry, 
with the sky cloudless. If the stream had been of much 
magnitude we should have supposed that the water came 
from a distance where there had been rains, but it was very 
small, extending not more than three miles from the point 
where we encamped. 

" Our Delawares report that they have seen numerous fresh 
buffalo ' signs,' and that we shall probably soon come upon 
the herds. We have captured a horse to-day which has a 
brand upon him, and has probably strayed away from some 
party of Indians." 

"•May 29. — After digging down the banks of the creek this 
morning, we were enabled to cross the train and to resume 
our march up the river ; our course led us toward the point 
where the river debouches from the mountains, and our 
present encampment is directly at the base of one of the peaks, 
near a spring of good water. This mountain is composed of 
huge masses of loose granite rock, thrown together in such 
confusion that it is seldom any portion can be seen in its 
original position. There are veins of quartz, greenstone, and 
porphyry running through the granite, similar to those that 
characterize the gold-bearing formation of California, New 
Mexico, and elsewhere. This fact, in connection with our 
having found some small particles of gold in the detritus along 
the bed of Otter creek, may yet lead to the discovery of 
important auriferous deposits in these mountains. Among 
the border settlers of Texas and Arkansas an opinion has for 
a long time prevailed that gold was abundant here, and 
several expeditions have been organized among them for the 
purpose of making examinations, but the Indians have 
opposed their operations, and in every instance, I believe, 
compelled them to abandon the enterprise and return home, 
so that as yet no thorough examination of the mountains has 
ever been made." 

'•'May 30. — Captain McClellan returned this morning, having 
traced the meridian of the 100th degree of west longitude to 
where it strikes Red river. This point he ascertained to be 
about six miles below the junction of the two principal 
branches, and three-fourths of a mile below a small creek 
which puts in from the north upon the left bank, near where 



28 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

the river bends from almost due west to north. At this point 
a cotton-wood tree, standing fifty feet from the water, upon 
the summit of a sand-hill, is blazed upon four sides, facing 
north, south, east and west, and upon these faces will be found 
the following inscriptions : upon the north side, ' Texas, lOO'^ 
longitude ;' upon the south side, ' Choctaw Nation, 100^ 
longitude ;' upon the east side, ' Meridian of 100*^, May 29, 
1852 ;' and upon the west side Captain McClellan marked my 
name, with the date. At the base of the sand-hill will be 
found four cotton- wood trees, upon one of which is marked 
* Texas,' and upon another will be found inscribed ' 20 miles 
from Otter creek.' 

" Red river at this place is a broad, shallow stream, six 
hundred and fifty yards wide, running over a bed of sand. 
Its course is nearly due west to the forks, and thence the 
course of the south branch is WNW. for eight miles, when it 
turns to nearly NW. The two branches are apparently of 
about equal magnitude, and between them, at the confluence, 
is a very high blufi", which can be seen for a long distance 
around." 

''June 1. — During our march to-day we passed along the 
borders of a swift-running rivulet of clear water which issues 
from springs in the mountains, and is filled with a multitude 
of fish. We also passed near the base of a very prominent 
and symmetrical mountain, which can be seen for twenty 
miles upon our route, and is a most excellent landmark. 
Several of the gentlemen ascended this peak with the baro- 
meter, and its altitude, as thereby indicated, is seven hundred 
and eighty feet above the base. 

" Captain McClellan has called this ' Mount Webster,' in 
honor of our great statesman ; and upon a rock directly at the 
summit he has chiseled the names of some of the gentlemen 
of the party. The valleys lying between many of these 
mountains have a soil which is arable in the highest degree. 
They are covered with grasses, which our animals eat greedily. 
There are also many springs of cold, limpid water bursting- 
out from the granite rocks of the mountains, and flowing 
down through the valleys, thereby aff'ording us, at all times, a 
most delicious beverage where we were led to believe, from 
the representations of the Witchitas, we would find only 



TJffE BEAVER AND ITS INSTINCT. ' 29 

bitter and unpalatable water. This is an unexpected luxury 
to us, and we now begin to cherish the hope that all the 
discouraging accounts of those Indians may prove equally 
erroneous. 

" Taking an old Comanche trail this morning, I followed it 
to a narrow defile in the mountains, which led me up through 
a very tortuous and rocky gorge, where the well-worn path 
indicated that it had been traveled for many years. It pre- 
sented a most wild and romantic appearance as we passed 
along at the base of cliffs which rose perpendicularly for 
several hundred feet directly over our heads upon either side. 
We saw the tracks of several elk that had passed the defile 
the day previous." 

'■'•June 6. — We have seen the trail of a large party of 
Comanches, which our guide says passed here two days since, 
going south. I regret that we did not encounter them, as I 
was anxious to make inquiries concerning our onward route. 
These Indians were traveling with their families. Upon a 
war expedition they leave their families behind, and never 
carry lodges, encumbering themselves with as little baggage 
as possible. On the other hand, when they travel with their 
families, they always carry all their wordly effects, including 
their portable lodges, wherever they go ; and as they seldom 
find an encampment upon the prairies where poles for the 
frame-work of the lodges can be procured, they invariably 
transport them from place to place, by attaching them to 
each side of the pack-horses, with one end trailing upon the 
ground. These leave parallel marks upon the soft earth after 
they have passed, and enable one at once to determine whether 
the trail is made by a war-party or otherwise." 

'■'■June 12. — A community of beavers have also selected a 
spot upon the creek near our camp, for their interesting 
labors and habitations. I know of no animal concerning 
which the accounts of travelers have been more extraordinary, 
mor.e marvelous or contradictory, than those given of the 
beaver. By some he is elevated in point of intellect almost 
to a level with man. He has been said, for instance, to con- 
struct houses, with several floors and rooms ; to plaster the 
rooms with mud in such a manner as to make smooth walls, 
and to drive stakes of six or eight inches in diameter into the 



30 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

ground, and to perform many other astounding feats, which I 
am inclined to believe are not supported by credible testimony. 
Laying aside these questionable statements, there is quite 
sufficient in the natural history of the beaver to excite our 
wonder and admiration. For instance, at this place, upon 
an examination of the dam they have constructed, I was both 
astonished and delighted at the wonderful sagacity, skill and 
perseverance which they have displayed. In the selection of 
a suitable site, and in the erection of the structure, they 
appear to have been guided by something more than mere 
animal instinct, and have exhibited as correct a knowledge of 
hydrostatics, and the action of forces resulting from currents 
of water, as the most scientific millwright would have done. 
Having chosen a spot where the banks on each side of the 
creek were narrow and sufficiently high to raise a head of 
about five feet, they selected two cotton-wood trees about 
fifteen inches in diameter, situated above this point, and 
having an inclination toward the stream : these they cut down 
with their teeth (as the marks upon the stumps plainly 
showed), and, floating them down to the position chosen for 
the dam, they were placed across the stream with an inclina- 
tion downward, uniting in the center. This formed the 
foundation upon which the superstructure of brush and earth 
was placed, in precisely the same manner as a brush-dam is 
made by our millwrights, with the bushes and earth alternating 
and packed closely, the butts in all cases turned down the 
stream. After this is raised a sufficient height, the top is 
covered with earth, except in the center, where there is a 
sluice or waste-wier, which lets off the superfluous water when 
it rises so high as to endanger the structure. In examining 
the results of the labors of these ingenious quadrupeds, it 
occurred to me that the plan of erecting our brush-dams must 
have been originally suggested from witnessing those of the 
beavers, as they are very similar. I watched for some time 
upon the banks of the pond, but could see none of the animals. 
I presume they think we make too much noise in our camp 
to suit them, and deem it most prudent to remain concealed 
in their sub-marine houses." 

" Jwne 16. — At our encampment of this evening is the last 
running water we have found in ascending this branch of 



A PHENOMENON. 31 

Red river. We are near the junctiou of the last branch of 
any magnitude that enters the river from the north, and 
about three miles from the point where it debouches from the 
plains, in a grove of large cotton-wood trees upon the south 
bank of the river. Under the roots of one of the largest of 
these trees, which stands near the river, and below all others 
in the grove, I have buried a bottle containing the following 
memorandum: 'On the 16th day of June, 1852, an exploring 
expedition, composed of Captain R. B. Marcy, Captain G. B. 
McClellan, Lieutenant J. Updegraff, and Dr. G. C. Shumard, 
with fifty-five men of company D, Fifth infantry, encamped 
here, having this day traced the north branch of Red river ,to 
its sources. Accompanying the expedition were Captain J. 
H. Strain, of Fort Washita, and Mr. J. R. Suydam, of New 
York city.' This tree is blazed on the north and east sides, 
and is marked upon the north side with a pencil as follows : 
* Exploring Expedition, June 16, 1852.' " 

"Jwne 20. — We made an early march this morning, passing 
over the high hills bordering the river, and the broad swells 
of prairie adjoining, for twelve miles, when we reached the 
valley of a very beautiful stream, twenty feet wide and six 
inches deep, running rapidly over a gravelly bed, through a 
valley about a mile wide of sandy soil, with large cotton-wood 
trees along the banks. I have called this ' McClellan's creek,' 
in compliment to my friend. Captain McClellan, who I believe 
to be the first white man that ever set eyes upon it. 

" During the middle of the day, when the earth and the 
adjacent strata of air had become heated by the almost 
vertical rays of the sun, we observed, as usual, upon the 
' Llano estacado,' an incessant tremulous motion in the lower 
strata of the atmosphere, accompanied by a most singular and 
illusive mirage. This phenomenon, which so bitterly deluded 
the French army in Egypt, and has been observed in many 
other places, is here seen in perfection. 

" The very extraordinary refraction of the atmosphere upon 
these elevated plateaus, causes objects in the distance to be 
distorted into the most wild and fantastic forms, and often 
exaggerated to many times their true size. A raven, for 
instance, would present the appearance of a man walking 
erect; and an antelope often be mistaken for a horse or 



32 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

buffalo. lu passing along over this thirsty and extended 
plain in a warm day, the eye of a stranger is suddenly glad- 
dened by the appearance of a beautiful lake, -with green and 
shady groves directly upon the opposite bank. His heart 
beats with joy at the prospect of speedily luxuriating in the 
cool and delicious element before him, and he urges his 
horse forward, thinking it very strange that he does not reach 
the oasis. At one time he imagines that he has made a sen- 
sible diminution in the distance, and goes on with renewed 
vigor and cheerfulness ; then again he fancies that the object 
recedes before him, and he becomes discouraged and disheart- 
ened. And thus he rides for miles and miles, and still finds 
himself no nearer the goal than when first he saw it — when, 
perhaps, some sudden change in the atmosphere would dissi- 
pate the illusion, and disclose to him the fact that he had 
been following a mirage." 

'■^June 26. — Our road during the whole day has passed 
through a continuous dog-town {Spermopldlus ludovicianus), 
and we were often obliged to turn out of our course to avoid 
the little mounds around their burrows. 

" In passing along through these villages the little animals 
are seen in countless numbers sitting upright at the mouths 
of their domicils, presenting much the appearance of the 
stumps of small trees ; and so incessant is the clatter of their 
barking, that it requires but little effort of the imagination to 
fancy oneself surrounded by the busy hum of a city. 

" The immense number of animals in some of these towns, 
or warrens, may be conjectured from the large space which 
they sometimes cover. The one at this place is about twenty- 
five miles in the direction through which we have passed it. 
Supposing its dimensions in other directions to be the same, 
it would embrace an area of six hundred and twenty-five 
square miles, or eight hundred and ninety-six tliousand acres. 
Estimating the holes to be at the usual distance of about 
twenty yards apart, and each burrow occupied by a family of 
four or five dogs, I fancy that the aggregate population would 
be greater than any other city in the universe. 

"This interesting and gregarious little specimen of the 
mammalia of our country, which is found assembled in sncii 
vast communities, is indigenous to the most of our fiir western 



THE PRAIIIIE-DOG. 33 

prairies, from Mexico to the northern limits of the United 
States, and has often been described by travelers who have 
been upon the plains. But as there are some facts in relation 
to their habits which I have never seen mentioned in any- 
published account of them, I trust I shall be pardoned if I add 
a few remarks to what has already been said. In the selection 
of a site or position for their towns they appear to have a 
regard to their food, which is a species of short, wiry grass, 
growing upon the elevated plains, where there is often no 
water near. I have -'sometimes seen their towns upon the 
elevated table-lands of New Mexico, where there was no water 
upon the surface of the ground for twenty miles, and where it 
did not seem probable that it could be obtamed by excavating 
to the depth of a hundred feet. This has induced me to 
believe that they do not require that element without which 
most other animals perish in a short time. 

" As there are generally no rains or dews during the sum- 
mer months upon the plains where these towns are found, and 
as the animals never wander far from home, I think I am 
warranted in coming to the conclusion that they require no 
water beyond that which the grass affords them. That they 
hybernate and pass the winter in a lethargic or torpid state is 
evident, from the fact that they lay up no sustenance for the 
winter, and that the grass around their holes dries up in the 
autumn, the earth freezes hard and renders it utterly impos- 
sible for them to procure food in the usual manner. 

"When the prairie-dog first feels the approach of the 
sleeping season (generally about the last days of October), he 
closes all the passages to his dormitory to exclude the cold 
air, and betakes himself to his brumal slumber with the 
greatest possible care. He remains housed until the warm 
days of spring, when he removes the obstructions from his 
door and again appears above ground as frolicsome as ever. 

" I have been informed by the Indians that a short time 
before a cold storm in the autumn, all the prairie-dogs may 
be seen industriously occupied with weeds and earth, closing 
the entrances to their burrows. They are sometimes, how- 
ever, seen reopening them while the weather is still cold and 
stormy, but mild and pleasant weather is always certain to 
follow. 



34 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

"It appears, therefore, that instinct teaches the little 
quadrupeds when to expect good or bad weather, and to make 
their arrangements accordingly. A species of small owl is 
always found in the dog-towns, sitting at the mouths of the 
holes when not occupied by the dogs ; whether for the 
purpose of procuring food, or for some other object, I do not 
know. They do not, however, as some have asserted, burrow 
with the dogs ; and when approached, instead of entering the 
holes, they invariably fly away. It has also been said that 
the rattlesnake is a constant companion of the dog ; but this 
is a mistake, for I have sometimes passed for days through 
the towns without seeing one. They are, however, often seen 
in the holes in cOTnpany with the dogs, and it has been sup- 
posed by some that they were welcome guests with the 
proprietors of the establishments; but we have satisfied 
ourselves that this is a domestic arrangement entirely at 
variance with the wishes of the dogs, as the snakes prey upon 
them, and must be considered as intruders. They are proba- 
bly attracted to the burrows for the purpose of procuring food, 
as one snake which we killed was found to have swallowed 
a full-grown dog."* 

'■'■June 28. — As Captain McClellan and myself were passing 
to-day along under the bluffs, we saw in advance of us a herd 
of antelopes quietly feeding among some mezquite trees, when 
the idea occurred to me of attempting to call them with a 
deer-bleat, which one of the Delawares had made for me. I 
accordingly advanced several hundred yards to near the crest 
of the hill, from which I had a fair view of the animals, and, 
very deliberately seating myself upon the ground, screened 
from their observation by the tall grass around me, I took 
out my bleat and commenced exercising my powers in imitat- 
ing the cry of the fawn. I soon succeeded in attracting their 
attention, and in a short time decoyed one of the unsuspicious 
animals within range of my rifle, which I raised to ray 
shoulder, and, taking deliberate aim, was in the act of pulling 

* Horace Greeley, in his "Across the Plains," devotes attention to the 
prairie-dogs and their habits. He falls into the common error adverted to 
above, of charging the dog with associating on friendly terms with the 
owl and rattlesnake. As Mr. Greeley is more of a political economist 
than a naturalist his " observations " will not weigh heavily in the scale 
of prairie-dog history. 



DRINKING GYPSUM WATER. 35 

trigger, when my attention was suddenly and most unexpect- 
edly drawn aside by a rustling which, I heard in the grass to 
my left. Casting my eyes in that direction, to my no small 
astonishment I saw a tremendous panther bounding at full 
speed directly toward me, and within the short distance of 
twenty steps. As may be imagined, I immediately abandoned 
the antelope, and, directing my rifle at the panther, sent a 
ball through his chest, which stretched him out upon the 
grass about ten yards from where I had taken my position. 
Impressed with the belief that I had accomplished a feat of 
rather more than ordinary importance in the sporting line, I 
placed my hand to my mouth (" a la savage"), and gave 
several as loud shouts of exultation as my weak lungs would 
admit, partly for the purpose of giving vent to my feelings of 
triumph upon the occasion, and also to call the Ca^Dtain, whom 
I had left some distance back with the horses. As he did 
not hear me I went back for him, and on returning to the 
spot where I had fired upon the panther, we discovered him 
upoif his feet, making off. The Captain gave him another 
shot as he was running, and then closed in with his rifle 
clubbed, and it required several vigorous blows, laid on in 
quick succession, to give him his quietus. 

" The panther had probably heard the bleat, and was 
coming toward it with the pleasant anticipation of making his 
breakfast from a tender fawn ; but, fortunately for me, I 
disappointed him. It occurred to me afterward that it would 
not always be consistent with one's safety to use the deer- 
bleat in this wild country, unless we were perfectly certain 
we should have our wits about us in the event of a panther or 
large bear (which is often the case) taking it into his head to 
give credence to the counterfeit. This was a large specimen 
of the Felis concolor, or North American cougar, measuring 
eight feet from his nose to the end of his tail." 

'■'■June 30. — Although we were suffering most acutely from 
the effects of the nauseating and repulsive water in the river, 
yet we were still under the painful necessity of using it. 
Several of the men had been taken with violent cramps in the 
stomach and vomiting, yet they did not murmur; on the 
contrary, they were cheerful, and indulged in fi-equent jokes 
at the expense of those who were sick. The principal topic 



36 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAX. 

of conversation with, them seemed to be a discussion of the 
relative merits of the different kinds of fimcy iced drinks 
which could be procured in the cities, and the prices that 
could be obtained for some of them if they were within reach 
of our party. Indeed, it seems to me that we were not 
entirely exempt from the agitation of a similar subject ; and 
from the drift of the argument, I have no doubt that a moderate 
quantity of Croton water, cooled with Boston ice, would have 
met with as ready a sale in our little mess, as in almost any 
market that could have been found. If I mistake not, one of 
the gentlemen offered as high as two thousand dollars for a 
single bucket of the pure element ; but this was one of thOse 
few instances in which money was not sufficiently potent to 
attain the object desired. 

" We laid ourselves down upon our blankets and endeavored 
to obliterate the sensation of thirst in the embraces of Morpheus ; 
but so far as I was concerned, my slumbers were continually 
disturbed by dreams, in which I fancied myself swallowing 
huge draughts of ice-water."* 

''July 1. — After undergoing the most intense sufferings from 
drinking this nauseating fluid, we indulged freely in the pure 
and delicious element as we ascended along the narrow dell 
through which the stream found its way. And following up 
for two miles the tortuous course of the gorge, we reached a 
point where it became so much obstructed with huge piles of 
rock, that we were obliged to leave our animals and clamber 
up the remainder of the distance on foot. 

" The gigantic escarpments of sandstone, rising to the giddy 
height of eight hundred feet upon each side, gradually closed 
in until they were only a few yards apart and finally united 
over head, leaving a long, narrow corridor beneath, at the 
base of which the head spring of the principal or main branch 
of Red river takes its rise. This spring bursts out from its 
cavernous reservoir, and, leaping down over the huge masses 
of rock below, here commences its long journey to unite with 
other tributaries in making the Mississippi the noblest river in 
the universe. Directly at the spring we found three small 

* Lieutenant Strain tells a similar storv. In his explorations for a shii> 
canal route across the isthmus his men suffered the most horrible agonies 
for want of food and drink. In their insane ravings their minds con- 
tinually dwelt on feasts, of which they were partakers. 



A MAGNIFICENT PANORAMA. . 87 

cotton-wood trees, one of which was blazed, and the fact of 
our having visited the place, with the date, marked upon it. 

" On beholding this minute rivulet as it wends its tortuous 
course down the steep descent of the canon, it is difficult to 
realize that it forms the germ of one of the largest and most 
important rivers in America — floating steamers upon its 
bosom for nearly two thousand miles, and depositing an 
alluvion along its borders which renders its valley unsurpassed 
for fertility. 

" We took many copious draughts of the cool and refreshing 
water in the spring, and thereby considered ourselves, with 
the pleasure we received from the beautiful and majestic 
scenery around us, amply remunerated for all our fatigue and 
privations. The magnificence of the views that presented 
themselves to our eyes as we approached the head of the river, 
exceeded any thing I had ever beheld. It is impossible for 
me to describe the sensations that came over me, and the 
exquisite pleasure I experienced, as I gazed upon these grand 
and novel pictures. 

" The stupendous escarpments of solid rock, rising precipi- 
tously from the bed of the river to such a height as, for a great 
portion of the day, to exclude the rays of the sun, were worn 
away, by the lapse of time and the action of the water and 
the weather, into the most fantastic forms, that required but 
little effort of the imagination to convert into works of art, 
and all united in forming one of the grandest and most 
picturesque scenes that can be imagined. We all, with one 
accord, stopped and gazed with wonder and admiration upon 
a panorama which was now for the first time exhibited to the 
eyes of civilized man. Occasionally might be seen a good 
representation of the towering walls of a castle of the feudal 
ages, with its giddy battlements pierced with loop-holes, 
and its projecting watch-towers standing out in bold relief 
upon the azure ground of the pure and transparent sky 
above. In other places our fancy would metamorphose the 
escarpments into a bastion front, as perfectly modeled and 
constructed as if it had been a production of the genius of 
Vauban, with redoubts and salient angles all arranged in due 
order. Then, again, we would see a colossal specimen of 
sculpture representing the human figure, with all the features 



88 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN, 

of the face, which, standing upon its lofty pedestal, overlooks 
the valley, and seems to have been designed and executed by 
the almighty Artist as the presiding genius of these dismal 
solitudes. 

" All was here crude nature, as it sprung into existence at 
the fiat of the almighty Architect of the universe, still preserv- 
ing its primeval type, its unreclaimed simplicity and wildness ; 
and it forcibly inspired me with that veneration which is justly 
due to the high antiquity of nature's handiworks, and which 
seems to increase as we consider the solemn and important 
lesson that is taught us in reflecting upon their continued per- 
manence when contrasted with our fleeting and momentary 
existence. 

" On climbing up to the summit of the escarpment over the 
head of the spring, we found ourselves upon the level plain 
of the ' Llano estacado,' which spreads out from here in one 
uninterrupted desert, to the base of the mountains east of the 
Rio Grande. The geographical position of this point, as 
determined by courses and distances from the place where 
we left the wagons, is in latitude 34° 42' north, and longitude 
103° 7' 11" west; and its approximate elevation above the sea, 
as determined by frequent and careful barometric observations, 
is 2,450 feet." 

^'■July 4. — This morning at an early hour we turned our 
faces toward home, and traveled about five miles down the 
right bank of the river, when we discovered that the country 
in advance upon that side was so much broken into deep 
gulleys and abrupt ridges that it would be impracticable to 
get our wagons over them. We therefore crossed to the 
north side of the river, where we found a most excellent road 
over smooth prairie. At our present position we have a pond 
of excellent water, with an abundance of hackberry anc 
cotton- wood for fuel. On approaching the pond. Captain 
McClellan and myself, who were in advance of the command, 
espied a huge panther very leisurely walking away in an 
opposite direction ; and as, in hunter's parlance, we ' had the 
wind of him,' it enabled us to ride sufiiciently near to give 
him a shot before he discovered us. It took efl'ect and caused 
him to make a tremendous leap into the air, and, running a 
short distance, he fell dead. We have also killed four deer 



THE SPEED OP THE GKAYHOUND AND THE DEER, 39 

to-day, which supplies ns with an abundance of fresh meat. 
Some of the bucks are now very fat, and the venison is 
superior to any I have ever eaten. 

" The pond of water at our camp is a very peculiar and 
strange freak of nature. It is almost round, two hundred and 
fifty feet in diameter, with the water thirty feet deep, and 
perfectly transparent and sweet. The surface of the water in 
this basin is about twenty feet below the banks, and the sides 
of the depression nearly perpendicular. The country for two 
or three miles around, in all directions, rises to the height of 
from one to two hundred feet. As this pond seems to be 
supplied by springs, and has no visible outlet, it occurred to 
me that there might possibly be a subterraneous communication 
which carried off the surplus water and the earth from the 
depression of the basin." . 

''July 8. — We have had several good opportunities since we 
have been upon the plains of witnessing the relative speed of 
the different animals found, and our observations have con- 
firmed the opinion I have before advanced. For example, 
the gra5''hounds have, upon several different occasions, run 
down and captured the deer and the prairie-rabbit, which are 
also considered very fleet ; but, although they have had very 
many races with the antelope under favorable circumstances, 
j'^et they have never in one instance been able to overtake 
them ; on the contrary, the longer the chase has continued, 
the greater has been the distance between them. The Cervus 
Virginianus (our red deer) has generally been considered the 
fleetest animal upon the continent after the horse, but the 
Antilocapra Americana^ or prong-horned antelope of the plains, 
is very much swifter." 

'■'■July 9. — It is a most beautiful spectacle to mark the 
slender and graceful figures of the hounds as they strain every 
muscle to its utmost tension in their eager and rapid pursuit 
of the panic-stricken deer. It is a contest between two of the 
fleetest and most graceful and beautiful quadrupeds in exist- 
ence : the one has his life at stake, and the other is animated 
by all that eager enthusiasm which is characteristic of a 
thorough-breed animal. They both put forth all the energies 
with which the Author of their being has endowed them, and 
Beem to fly over the wavy undulations of the plains. Now 



40 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

they are upon the summit of one of those swells, and the 
startled animal has disappeared in an adjoining ravine, and for 
a moment the hounds are at fault ; but soon they espy hirn, 
panting up the opposite acclivity, when they are oif again like 
the wind, in hot pursuit, and, rapidly closing upon their 
victim, they are soon engaged in the death-struggle. • This 
sport is most intensely exciting, and he who would not become 
interested in it would hardly be entitled to claim consanguinity 
with the great family of Nimrod." 

'-'• July 15. — John Bushman, our interpreter, was much sur- 
prised to-day, on calling a doe toward him with a deer-bleat, 
to see a small fawn following after its mother ; but imagine 
his astonishment, when immediately behind the fawn came 
a huge panther bounding rapidly toward him, and in a 
twinkling he fastened his claws in the vitals of his victim. 
He, however, in this instance, caught a tartar, and paid dearly 
for his temerity, as John, with a spirit of indignation that 
would have done credit to the better feelings of any man, 
raised his rifle, and, instead of killing the deer, which was 
entirely at his mercy, planted the contents in the sides of the 
panther. 

" The method of hunting deer by the use of the bleat is 
practiced extensively by the Delawares in tliis country, and 
"with great success. 

" They make the bleat somewhat similar to the first joint 
of a clarionet, with a brass reed scraped verj^ thin, and applied 
in the same manner as upon the clarionet, and so regulate 
and adjust the instrument by experiment as to imitate almost 
precisely the cry of the young faw^n. They use them during 
the months of June and July, before the does have weaned 
.their young. Riding along near a copse of trees or brush 
where they suppose the deer to be lying, they sound their 
bleats, which can be heard for half a mile ; and as the doe 
never remains near her fawn any longer than is necessary to 
give it food (when she retires to an adjoining thicket and 
makes her bed alone), she immediately takes alarm at what 
she conceives a cry of distress from her helpless ofispring, 
and, in the intensity of her maternal aflfection, she rushes at 
full speed in the direction of the cr}^, and frequently comes 
within a few yards of the hunter, who stands ready to give 



THE COMANCHE S SKIIiL IN HORSEMANSHIP. 41 

her a death-wound. This is an unsportsmanlike way of 
hunting deer, and only admissible when provisions are scarce. 

" The bear, the wolf and panther often come at the call of 
the bleat, supposing they are to feast upon the tender flesh of 
the fawn. It might be supposed that in the country where 
there are so many carnivorous animals, the greater portion of 
the deer would be killed by them while young ; but nature, 
in the wisdom of its arrangements, has provided the helpless 
little quadruped with a means of security against their attacks, 
which is truly wonderful. It is a well-known fact among 
hunters that the deer deposit a much stronger scent upon their 
tracks than any other animal, inasmuch as a dog can without 
difficulty follow them, long after they have passed, at a distance 
of many yards from the track. Notwithstanding this, the 
fawns, until they are sufficiently grown to be able to make 
good running, give out no scent whatever upon their tracks, 
and a dog of the best nose can not follow them except by 
sight. I have often seen the experiment made, and am per- 
fectly satisfied that such is the case ; this, therefore, must, in a 
great measure, protect them from the attacks of the wild 
animals of the country." 

" The nomadic Indian of the prairies, free as the boundless 
plains over which he roams, neither knows nor wants any 
luxuries beyond what he finds in the buffalo or deer around 
him. These serve him Tvith food, clothing, and a covering for 
his lodge, and he sighs not for the titles and distinction which 
occupy the thoughts and engage the energies of civilized man. 
His only ambition consists in being able to cope successfully 
with his enemy in war, and in managing his steed with 
unfailing adroitness. He is in the saddle from boyhood to 
old age, and his favorite horse is his constant companion. It 
is when mounted that the Comanche exhibits himself to the 
best advantage:. here he is at home, and his skill in various 
maneuvers which he makes available in battle — such as 
throwing himself entirely upon one side of his horse, and 
discharging his arrows with great rapidity toward the opposite 
side from beneath the animal's neck while he is at full speed 
— is truly astonishing. Many of the women are equally expert, 
as equestrians, with the men. They ride upon the same 
Baddies, and in the same manner, with a leg upon each side 



43 TITE LIFE OV GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

of the horse. As an example of their skill in horsemanship, 
two young women of one of the bands of the Northern 
Comanches, while we were encamped near them, upon seemg 
some antelopes at a distance from their camp, mounted horses, 
and, with lassoes in their hands, set off at full speed in pursuit 
of this fleetest inhabitant of the plains. After pursuing them 
for some distance, and taking all the advantages which their 
circuitous course permitted, they finally came near them, and, 
throwing the lasso with unerring precision, secured each an 
animal and brought it back in triumph to the camp. Every 
warrior has his war-horse, which is the fleetest that can be 
obtained, and he prizes him more highly than any thing else 
in his possession, and it is seldom that he can be induced to 
part with him at any price. He never mounts him except 
•when going into battle, the buffalo-chase, or upon state occa- 
sions. On his return from an excursion he is met at the door 
of his lodge by one of his wives, who takes his horse and 
attends to its wants with the utmost care. The prairie war- 
rior performs no menial labor ; his only occupation is in war 
and the chase. His wives, who are but little dearer to him 
than his horse, perform all the drudgery. He follows the 
chase, he smokes his pipe, he eats and sleeps ; and thus he 
passes his time, and, in his own estimation, he is the most 
lordly and independent sovereign in the universe." 

" The Creek Indians, who exercise a good influence over 
the prairie tribes, have counseled them to commit no acts of 
hostility upon the Delawares and Shawnees, and, I presume, 
they will take measures to enforce a strict adherence to their 
wishes in this respect. These people, who are so extremely 
jealous of their own freedom that they will often commit 
suicide rather than be taken prisoners, are prone to enslave 
others, and this dominant principle is carried to the greatest 
extreme so far as regards their "women. A beast of burden 
and a slave to the will of her brutal master, yet, strange as it 
may appear, the Comanche woman seems contented with her 
lot, and submits to her fate without a murmur. The hard- 
ships imposed upon the females are most severe and cruel. 
The distance of rank and consideration which exists between 
the black slave and his master is not greater than between the 
Comanche warrior and his wife. Every degrading office that 



THEIR TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. 43 

is imposed upon the black by the most tyrannical masters 
falls, among the Comanches, to the lot of the wretched female. 
They, in common with other Indians, are not a prolific race — 
indeed, it is seldom that a woman has more than three or 
four children. Many of these, owing to unavoidable exposui'e, 
die young ; the boys, however, are nurtured with care and 
treated with great kindness, while the girls are frequently 
beaten and abused unmercifully. I have never seen an idiot, 
or one that was naturally deformed, among them. 

" In their treatment of prisoners of war there was also a 
very marked difference. The eas^rn tribes, although they 
put their prisoners to tortures of the most appalling character, 
seldom, if ever, violate the chastity of the females ; while, on 
the contrary, the prairie Indians do not put their prisoners to 
death b}'- prolonged tortures, but invariably compel the females 
to submit to their lewd embraces. There is, at this time, a 
white woman among the Middle Comanches, by the name of 
Parker, who, with her brother, was captured while they were 
young children, from' their father's house in the western part 
of Texas. This woman has adopted all the habits and 
peculiarities of the Comanches ; has an Indian husband and 
children, and can not be persuaded to leave them. The 
brother of the woman, who had been ransomed by a trader 
and brought home to his relatives, was sent back by his 
mother for the purpose of endeavoring to prevail upon his 
sister to leave the Indians and return to her family ; but he 
stated to me that on his arrival she refused to listen to the 
proposition, saying that her husband, children, and all that 
she held most dear, were with the Indians, and there she 
should remain." 



44 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 



CHAPTER III. 

SERVICES IN OREGON — EXPLORATION OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS — HIS 
REPORT — DETAILED TO EXAMINE RAILWAYS — VALUABLE REPORT. 

On the 8th of September, 1852, Captain McClellan was 
ordered to the coast and harbor survey of Texas. Under 
date of April 18th, 1853, he reported results, in giving a detail 
of survey, embracing a description of the bars on the Texan 
coast, from Paso Cavallo*to the mouth of the Rio Grande; 
of the harbors of Brazos Santiago, Corpus Christi, Aranzas, 
Paso Cavallo, etc. 

Early in April (1853), he was ordered to report for duty to 
Governor Stevens of Oregon, who was placed in charge of 
the survey of the northern route for the Pacific Railway. 
The order for the survey issued from the War Department, 
April 8th. It assigned Captain McClellan the western sec- 
tion — the most difficult and responsible portion of the entire 
survey. The Secretary's order read : 

"In the exploration of the Cascade range, the Brigadier- 
General in command of the Pacific division will assign to 
Captain McClellan two officers from those who may volunteer 
for the service, and thirty men to be selected from the several 
companies stationed in the Territory of Washington and on the 
Columbia river. Every facility will be given to Captain 
McClellan and his party in the discharge of their difficult and 
important duties, and much is expected from the hearty co-ope- 
ration and assistance of the officers and troops stationed in the 
Territory." 

The Captain was also assigned the responsible duty of 
layiug out a military road from Walla- Walla to Puget's 
Sound. His orders were : 

"War Department, Washington, D. C, ) 
"May 9th, 1853. \ 

"Si^:— 

" The construction oi the military road from Walla- Walla 
to Steilacoom, Puget's Sound, authorized by the act of Congress, 
approved January 7, 1853, is assigned to you under the general 
directions of Governor I. I. Stevens. You are authorized to 
make a requisition for such part of the appropriation as may 



GOVERNOR STEVENS' INSTRUCTIONS. 45 

be necessary to conduct the preliminary surveys and location 
of the road. These being accomplished, you will enter into 
contracts with responsible persons for the construction. In 
order to avoid delay, you are authorized to draw upon this 
department for a portion, or the whole of the appropriation, as 
soon as you have formed the required contracts, which will be 
at once forwarded to this department for its sanction. 

" It is important that this road should be opened in season 
for the fall emigration ; you will, therefore, use every exertion 
to do so. 

" Should it be found impossible to accomplish this, you will, 
at least, endeavor to fix the line of the road, especially through 
the Cascade mountains, and to perforrn such work on the most 
difficult portions as will enable the 'emigrants to render the 
route practicable by their own exertions, detaching a suitable 
person as guide and director to meet them at Walla-Walla. 
Should you find it impossble, you are authorized to let out 
different portions of the road, or different kinds of work, on 
separate contracts. On account of the peculiar nature of the 
work, you may find it advisable, instead of contracting for the 
performance of a specified amount of work, to contract for the 
supply of the necessary laborers and tools, taking precautions 
to secure good ones. In any event, you will so arrange your 
operations as, first, to secure a practicable wagon-road between 
the extremities of the road ; devoting the remainder of the 
funds at your disposal to the improvement of the more import- 
ant points, always endeavoring to make the whole road a good 
one. Yery respectfully, 

" Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War. 
" Brevet Captain George B. McClellan, 

'■'■ Corps of Engineers.'''' 

Governor Stevens' sub-instructions, dated May 9th, read as 

follows : 

" Washington, D, C, ) 
"May 9,-1853. f 
"Sm:— . ^ 

" On your arrival at San Francisco, you will ascertam from 
the proper sources the exact state of affairs with reference to 
the supplies and personnel of your command. Before leaving 
there for the Columbia river, you will make all the arrange- 
ments necessary to carry out the general instructions for the 
conduct of the expedition. 

. "Having arrived at Astoria, you will at once proceed to 
organize your command at such point, either in Oregon or 
Washington Territory, as you may decide to be the best. You 
will employ such guides, hunters and muleteers as you may 
find necessary, as well as the civil assistants indispensable to 
the performance of the required duties. With regard to these, 



46 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLEIiLAN. 

and all other points involving expenditure, you will be careful 
to observe the strictest economy compatible with the success 
of the expedition. The first and most important point to 
which your attention is to be directed, will be the exploration 
of the Cascade mountains. You will thoroughly explore this 
range from the Columbia river to the forty-ninth parallel of 
north latitude, making detailed examinations of the passes and 
obtaining full information in relation to the range in general. 
Pending this examination, you will endeavor to examine the 
line of the proposed road from Walla- Walla to Steilacoom, 
and to start its construction. Having completed the survey of 
the Cascade range, you will at once proceed eastward as far as 
the Rocky mountains, unless you meet, before reaching that 
range, the main party coming from the east. In selecting your 
route, you will start from the most practicable pass in the 
Cascade range, and follow what you regard as the most prom- 
ising line for a practicable road. From the nature of the case, 
it is impossible for me to give you detailed instructions ; but I 
have, in the course of a number of conversations, fully explained 
to you the objects of the expedition, my own probable opera- 
tions, and my views. 

" I have, therefore, to direct you to keep constantly in your 
mind the tenor of these conversations, and the written general 
instructions. You will use your own judgment as to the 
manner of carrying them out in the most rapid and effectual 
manner. 

" Whenever you meet with the main party from the east, or 
any portion of it, you will at once assume the command, (in my 
absence,) and give whatever orders may be necessary, in your 
opinion, to carry out the objects of the expedition. Funds will 
be placed at your disposal to meet your expenses. 

"Inclosed are the general and detailed instructions of the 
expedition, with an explanatory memorandum. 

" Yours, etc., 

"Isaac I. Stevens. 
" Brevet Captain G. B. McClellan. 

" Corps of Engineers^ 

Of the duties performed on the western section by Captain 
McClellan, G-overnor Stevens afterward reported : 

*' Captain McClellan's party, in addition to the scientific 
corps already mentioned, consisted of five assistants in obser- 
Tations, carrying instruments, etc. ; two Sergeants, two Corpo- 
rals, and twenty-five privates Fourth infantry ; two chief 
packers, three hunters and herdsmen, and twenty packers — 
Bixty-four persons in all, besides himself. 

" He left Vancouver on the 24th of July, and strildng the 



ANNOYING DELAYS. 47 

Catlilapoot'l on the 1st of August, following up its valley 
four days, crossed the divide on the 5th to the south of Mount 
St. Helens, turned round to the south and east of Mount 
Adams, and reached the Wenass (a branch of the Nahchess) 
on the 20th of August. At this point one party was sent, 
under Lieutenant Hodges, to Steilacoom, across by the Nah- 
chess Pass; another, under Lieutenant Mowry, to the Dalles ; 
a third, under Mr. Gibbs, to the mouth of the Yakima ; a 
fourth, under Lieutenant Duncan, to the main Yakima ; while 
Captain McClellan went in person to examine the Nahchess 
Pass. 

" The camp was moved to KetetaSj on the main Yakima, 
September 3d. From this point the main Yakima Pass was 
examined, and on the 19th, all the detached parties, having 
previously rejoined the main party, moved northward, and 
reached the Columbia river a little below the mouth of the 
Pischous on the 21st, and Fort Okinakane on the 27th of 
September. 

" Subsequent to this date, the party examined the country 
to the Barrier river, (its several heads by small parties,) its 
valley to the Columbia riv^er, that river to Fort Okinakane, 
and explored the whole couatry east of the Cascades to the 
Columbia river, and north to above our parallel, and crossed 
the river at Colville on the 18th of October. 

" On leaving the Yakima, September 19tli, Captain McClel- 
lan's party was reduced to thirty-six men in all, including 
himself, by the discharge of a portion of the scientific corps 
and of the packers, and by sending in all the troops but one 
Sergeant and seven privates. 

" Subsequent to reaching Olympia, Captain McClellan had 
made an examination of the eastern shore of the sound to 
north of Snohomish river, and of that river and the Sno- 
qualme, and of the adjacent country, for some miles above 
the Snoqualme Falls." 

The surveys were so far completed that, February 25th, 

1854, the Captain submitted his report. Its length prevents 

an insertion entire, in this place ; but we may recur to it in 

quotations, thus giving its salient points and leading incidents. 

The party reached Vancouver, June 27th ; but, owing to 

. the several annoying delays in obtaining animals and in 



48 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

organizing the expedition, tlie start was not made until July 
24tli. It comprised the scientific staff, three non-commissioned 
officers, fourteen privates, with packers, herders and hunters, 
in all numbering sixty-five persons, besides ttiree leaders. 
One hundred and seventy-three mules and horses did the 
carrying. 

The route pursued was to Cathlapoot'l, Chequos, and Atah- 
nam, which latter place was reached August 17th. Here 
McClellan learned that the people were already engaged in 
opening a road over the mountains, through the Nahchess 
Pass, which was declared easily practicable. Proceeding on 
to the valley of the Wenass, the party was halted in camp, 
in order to divide into exploration parties. Lieutenant 
Hodges was sent off to Steilacoom for supplies, as well as to 
reconnoiter the new pass and the road to that little place. 
Lieutenant Duncan was detailed, with a sufficient force, to 
cross the main Yakima river, to obtain all possible informa- 
tion in regard to the surrounding country, particularly toward 
the north. Mr. Gibbs, the Geologist, was given a party, 
with which to explore the valley of the Yakima down to the 
Columbia river. Captain McClellan took the Nahchess Pass 
for his inspection. Lieutenant Mowry remained in the camp 
at Wenass, in charge of the depot. 

McClellan ascertained the entire impracticability of the 
Nahchess Pass for a railway, and returned to camp. On the 
3d of September, the depot was removed from Wenass to 
Keletas, on the main Yakima. On the 4th, the Captain left 
camp to explore the pass at the the head of, the river. Of 
the valle}^ of the Yakima, he wrote : 

" The Yakima unites with the Columbia in a vast sage 
desert, extending to the north and north-east as far as the 
eye can reach ; and the desolate, dark-gray color of the sage 
is unbroken by the verdure of grass or trees. The Columbia 
is here about four hundred yards in width, with sand and 
gravel banks thirty feet in height; a placid current; here 
and there a cluster of willow bushes border the stream, 
usually destitute of vegetation. In the Yakima, at its mouth, 
are three islands covered with good grass— all that is to be 
found in the vicinity. Neither stone nor timber occurs in 
the neighborhood. The valley of the Yakima soon becomes 



THE CASCADE RANGE, 49 

more contracted by low hills, wlii.cli gradually close upon it, 
and soon increase in height as the stream is ascended. To 
the commencement of the pine timber, a distance of nearly 
one hundred miles from the mouth, the average width of the 
valley is about six miles, occasionally reduced to four or five 
hundred yards by spurs closing in on both sides, and some- 
times widening out to ten miles. Cotton -wood and willow 
fringe the streams ; grass is generally confined to the water's 
edge, but is not in sufficient quantity to adapt the valley to 
grazing purposes on a large scale. In some of the small 
lateral valleys good bunch-grass is found, as well as on the 
summits of the highest ridges and hills. But the winters arc 
too severe for cattle to thrive in the open air, the whole 
country being covered with snow ; and, in addition, the 
bunch-grass is of too scanty a growth to be cut for hay. 
During the winter, the Indians drive their horses and cattle 
to the most sheltered spots, where they feed on wild sage and 
willow." 

After the coming in of the several parties, the passage of 
the Cascade mountains, between the Lakima and Columbia 
rivers, was commenced. From the report we quote : 

'* We had expected to find the country north of this range 
rather level, or, at most, rolling and covered with open pine 
woods. Our surprise may be imagined when the view spread 
before us from a commanding point, a little below the sum- 
mit, is described. Five thousand two hundred feet below 
us lay the Columbia, apparently almost at our feet ; so small 
and insignificant did it appear, that we could not believe it 
to be the ' Great river.' In front of us the Cascade range 
extended directly to the river, crossing it in fact ; so that, 
to the north and west, there was nothing to be seen but 
mountain piled on mountain — rugged and impassable. 
About west-north-west was a handsome snow-peak, smaller 
than Mount Baker ; as it is not to be found on any previous 
map that I know of, and had no name, I called it Mount 
Stuart. Far in the distance to the northward was seen a 
range, running nearly east and west, alongside of which the 
Columbia flows before reaching the Okinakane. That por- 
tion of the Cascade range which crosses the Columbia sinks 
into an elevated plateau, which extends as far as the limit of 



50 THE LIFE OF GEOEGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

vision to the eastward — this is the Spokane plain. On it we 
could see no indication of water ; not a single tree, except on 
the mountain spur ; not one spot of verdure. It was of a 
dead yellowish hue, with large clouds of black blending into 
the general tinge. It appeared to be a sage-desert, with a 
scanty growth of dry bunch-grass, and frequent outcroppings 
of basalt. Descending by a very steep trail, we reached the 
valley of the Columbia on the 21st. Through a valley about 
a mile in breadth, in which not a tree is to be seen, and 
seldom even a bush, and which is bordered by steep walls 
of trap, lava and sandstone, often arranged in a succession 
of high plateaus or steps, the deep, blue water of the Colum- 
bia flows with a rapid, powerful current ; it is the only life- 
like object in this desert. The character of the valley is 
much the same as far as Fort Okinakane. It occasionally 
widens out slightly ; again it is narrowed by the mountains 
pressing in. Sometimes the trail passes over the lower 
bottom ; at other, over very elevated and extensive terraces ; 
and in a few places, over dangerous points of the mountains. 
At one of the latter, three miles above the En-te-at-kwu, two 
of our mules were instantaneously killed by falling over a 
precipice, and two others seriously injured. The difficulty 
of the trail at this point may be imagined from the fact that 
we were occupied from 11 o'clock a. m., until dark, in passing 
the train over a distance rather less than two miles." 

On the 27th of September, the explorers reached Fort 
Okinakane, from which point various explorations were made, 
but without any good results. 

From this point the explorations were pursued to the 
north as far as 49*^ 26' . Nothing was discovered to indicate 
the possibility of a passage of the Cascade range to the north. 
The party returned to Colville, reaching that post on the 17th 
of October. On the 22d, McClellan was advised of the 
approach of the eastern party, and started for the rendezvous 
on the Spokane river; on the 28th, he was joined by the 
party from the east. 

The disposition for the winter was made. McClellan 
started for the coast by way of "Walla-Walla, passing down 
the Cascades in an open boat, and reached Fort Vancouver, 
on the night of November 18th. At that point the party 



OBSERVATIONS. 51 

was broken up, the officers and scientific corps being ordered 
to Olympia, to complete tlieir reports. McClellan, says : 

'* Being greatly delayed in making arrangements necessary 
for the disposition of my own and other parties, it was only 
on the 16th of December that I arrived at Olympia, by way 
of the Cowlitz. On the 23d I left Olympia, with Mr. Minter 
and a small party, for Steilacoom, in a canoe. My intention 
was to endeavor to complete the barometrical profile of the 
main Yakima Pass, and examine the approaches on this side. 
At Steilacoom I found it impossible to make any arrange- 
ments for land transportation — the Indians representing the 
road impracticable for animals at that season ; I therefore 
determined to proceed by water to the falls of the Snoqualme, 
and thence as far as it might seem advisable on foot. I left 
Steilacoom on the 29th with tw^o canoes, reached the mouth 
of the Sinahomish on the 1st of January, and arrived within 
a mile of the Snoqualme Falls on the 7th of January. We 
proceeded but a few miles above the falls on foot ; the trail 
was entirely obliterated ; no Indian could be induced to 
accompany me to the pass as a guide. The barometer with 
which I was furnished had proved entirely worthless ; and 
from the information obtained, there seemed to be no possi- 
bility of proceeding further than Lake Nook-noo ; I there- 
fore concluded that no object would be attained by keeping 
on, at all commensurate with the difficulty of the undertaking, 
and determined to retrace my steps. The Indians repre- 
sented the snow to be up to the arm-pits at the Nook-noo, 
and as increasing thence to the pass, at the summit of which 
it would be found to be about twenty-five feet in depth. Mr. 
Tinkham found but seven feet at the summit on the 21st of 
January ; yet I am of the opinion that in the most unfavor- 
able portions of ordinary winters, the statement of the Indians 
will be found to be quite near the truth ; at all events, I do 
not think that any important conclusion should be based on 
the results of Mr. Tinkham's trip ; they ought to be verified 
later in the year, and, if possible, during a winter not so 
unusually dry as this was, up to the time of Mr. Tinkham's 
passage. For a winter station, with the object of examining 
the depth of snow, the prairie at the foot of the Nook-noo 
Falls would be a proper position. 



52 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

" The valley of the Sinahomish and Snoqualme is of pure 
sand, covered Tvith an inch or two of decomposed vegetable 
matter, with the exception of a small prairie on the right 
bank of the Snoqualme, some ten miles below, and a larger 
one about two miles above the falls. 

" There may be more of these small prairies, of which I 
heard nothing. Some are said to exist on the Skywhamish. 
The bluffs of the stream are generally of sand, clay and 
gravel ; occasionally of conglomerate and argillaceous rock. 

" If there is any coal near the Sinahomish, it will proba- 
bly be found at some distance from the river, in a bluflF about 
twelve miles from the . mouth. The timber in the valley is 
generally poor ; it principally consists of cotton-wood, maple 
and alder ; the fir and cedar are generally very indifferent ; 
in some small tracts they are good. The bottom is usually 
wide, flat, and subject to overflow. There are extensive 
cranberry swamps near the mouth of the Sinahomish. This 
stream has three outlets, and has formed a low, sandy delta. 
The Sinahomish is navigable for small steamers for about 
twelve miles from its mouth ; it forks about eighteen miles 
from the mouth, the Skywhamish being rather the larger 
fork of the two. Below the forks, the average width of the 
Sinahomish is some fifty yards. The Snoqualme is much 
obstructed by rapids, which increase in number and strength 
as the falls are approached. I estimated the height of the 
falls at from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty 
feet ; they are exceedingly beautiful. The ledge over which 
the river passes at this point is of conglomerate. Similar 
falls exist at the foot of Lake ISTook-noo, on the Skywhamish, 
the Stoluquamish and Skagitt. On the 12tli we encamped 
on the head of MacDonough's island, intending to proceed to 
Bellingham bay ; but during that night six inches of snow 
fell, and during the next day so violent a gale blew from the 
north that our canoes could not proceed. On the 14th we 
turned back, and reached Olympia on the 21st of January. 
During this trip the weather was intensely cold, the thermom- 
eter being as low as zero ; we endured some discomfort from 
snow, cold rains and sleet. 

" Before I left Vancouver for Olympia, Mr. Gibbs went to 
Astoria with the intention of attempting to pass from there, 



WINTER EXPLORATIONS. 53 

ma Shoalwater bay and the Willopah river, direct to Olympia, 
The trail being entirely overgrown by vine maple, it was 
impossible for him to get through at that season of the year 
with the provisions he was obliged to carry ; it became neces- 
sary for him to turn back before he reached the liead of the 
Willopah. His report on the subject will give the detailed 
information he obtained with regard to that country. I will 
merely state that the valley of the Willopah is about thirty 
miles long, by some ten or twelve in breadth ; it is thickly 
overgrown with vine maple, and occasional large trees ; the 
soil is rich, though somewhat light. On the Chehalis are a 
number of prairies, many of good soil, especially on the south 
fork. The whole country is, with the exception of these 
prairies, densely overgrown with fir, cedar and spruce. There 
are many mountain ridges, some of which are quite extensive. 
The south fork of the Chehalis and Gray's river head in a 
quite high peak. 

" In my railroad report of February 8th, I gave my reasons 
for considering Seattle as the best terminus for a railway on 
the eastern shore of the sound. In any future examinations 
it would be advantageous to examine a line leading to Port 
Discovery. The advantages of that harbor, both as to its 
situation and its facilities for perfect defense, by permanent 
works, entitle it to consideration. It seems to be fully 
adapted to the purpose of a great naval establishment." 

The country to the east of the Cascade range is represented 
as generally barren, unfit for agriculture, and poor for grazing 
purposes. Even the lumber business would not pay. The 
Indians were represented as harmless and poor. The report 
says : 

" With the exception of the Yakimas, they are very poor. 
Their food consists of salmon, berries and potatoes. The 
entire absence of game renders it diflQcult for them fo obtain 
good clothing ; during the whole trip I did not see a single 
deer, elk or bear — nothing larger than a wolf Wolves, 
badgers, squirrels, and a few gray marmots, were the only 
quadrupeds. The blue and ruflFed grouse, prairie-chicken 
and sage-fowl, abounded. To the west of the mountains the 
country is covered with dense fir timber, interspersed with 
prairies or lakes. The only good land I have seen is in the 



54 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN, 

valley of the Columbia and Cowlitz, and of some of that 
string of prairies which skirt the mountains from the Colum- 
bia, at least as far as the Skywhamish. The Willopah and 
Chehalis have also good land upon them. The prairies near 
the sound are uniformly of gravel, barren and worthless. 
Lumber and the fisheries must constitute the great interests 
of this portion of the Territory," 

The report of February 8th, referred to by the Captain, 
related especially to the Snoqualme Pass, and its practicability 
for a railway. It was full of detail. His views were T;hus 
given upon each particular line of approach to the coast, as 
well as of the proper harbor on the Pacific : 

" I am of the opinion that the Yakima Pass is barely 
practicable, and that only at a high cost of time, labor and 
money. 

" The Columbia River Pass is not only undoubtedly practi- 
cable, but is remarkably favorable. I see no reason to believe 
that an equally good one can be found anywhere through the 
Cascade range of the Sierra Nevada ; and have no hesitation 
in pronouncing it to be, by far, the best from 45*=* 30' to 49*=^ 
north latitude. The question is, after all, reduced to a choice 
between the shorter line, high grades, a very long tunnel, and 
almost certain difficulty from the snow, in one case ; and the 
longer line, low grades, little or no tunneling, and no trouble 
from the snow, in the other. I prefer the latter. 

" The main Yakima Pass giving quite a direct line from the 
mouth of Snake river to Seattle, it would be desirable that an 
instrumental survey should be made of it, as well as of the 
Columbia River Pass, should any more railroad explorations 
be made on this line. I have mentioned Seattle as the proper 
terminus of the road, whether it crosses the main Yakima or 
by the Columbia Pass. This place is situated on Elliott bay, 
and is Ijy far superior to any other harbor on the eastern 
shore of Puget sound — I mean here, by Puget sound, the 
sheet of water made up of the sound, properly so called. 
Admiralty inlet, Bellingham bay, etc. 

" Seattle is the nearest to the Straits of Fuca. It is easily 
entered with any of the prevailing winds, is secure from heavy 
seas, and has a most excellent holding-ground of blue clay, 
and good depth of water — thirty fathoms. The banks are 



MC clkllan's winter labors. 55 

suitable for a town ; the deep water comes so near the shore 
that but very short wharves will be required. Semi-bitumi- 
nous coal has been found within fourteen miles by water up 
the D'Wamish. The harbor can be defended by permanent 
fortifications. 

" Next to this place, Steilacoom is the best terminus on 
the eastern shore : it is not so accessible from the straits ; it 
affords a fair harbor for large vessels ; and the ' Narrows,' 
which cover this harbor, are more easily defended by per- 
manent works than are the approaches to Seattle. 

" The examination of the passes of the Cascade mountains 
was necessarily limited to a hasty reconnoissance, for the 
reason that that range was almost wholly unknown — in fact, 
nothing whatever was known of the portion north of the 
Yakima Pass ; and as I was under the necessity of completing 
the examination as far as the northern limits of our territory, 
I had no choice, but to ascertain, with the least possible delay, 
the most important facts with reference to each pass, and then 
push on in search of others." 

The winter was passed at Olympia by the entire oflQcial 
corps of the expedition in making up their several reports, 
which were sent in by Governor Stevens. They iucluded 
the labors of both the eastern and western parties, and, taken 
together, prove an almost exhaustive history of the physical 
aspects of the country bordering the forty-ninth parallel. 
Governor Stevens took occasion to refer, in grateful and com- 
plimentary terms, to McClellan's labors. He said : 

"To Captain McClellan, his officers and men, too much 
credit can not be ascribed for their indefatigable exertions, 
and the great ability of all kinds brought to their division of 
the work. They can point with just pride to the determi- 
nation of two practicable passes in that most formidable 
barrier from the Mississippi to the Pacific, of the Cascade 
range, and to a most admirable development of the unknown 
geography of the region eastward to the Columbia, as showing 
the unsurpassed skill and devotion which has characterized 
the chief of the division and all of his associates." 

The Governor also referred more particularly to the Cap- 
tain's winter labors, in his report to the Secretary of War, 
dated at Olympia, January 31st, 1854. He said : 



56 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

" I have the liouor to report that, as announced to you in 
my letter dated December 19th, Captain McClellan left Olym- 
pia on the 23d of December in a canoe, arriving at Steilacoom 
that evening. He received verbal instructions to carry down 
the limes from the Snoqualme Pass to the several good harbors 
of the sound, going as far northward as Beliingham bay, and 
to examine the several ports of the same, to determine the 
proper terminus of the railroad. The duty of collecting 
information as to a wagon-road along the shores of the sound 
from Steilacoom to Beliingham bay, was also assigned to him. 
Unable to procure horses or guides at Steilacoom, he deter- 
mined to take canoes to go by the Sinahomish and Snoqualme 
rivers to the Snoqualme falls, and thence to ascend to 
the Snoqualme Pass on foot. * * Captain McClellan has 
prepared a brief report of his operations, which is extremely 
interesting." 

The results of these laborious surveys on the northern 
route, formed Vol. I. of the twelve large quartos published 
by Congress. The other volumes were devoted to the explo- 
ration of various other routes and sections — the entire series 
forming a very exhaustive examination of the vast wilds 
between the valley of the Mississippi and the western decli- 
vity of the continent. The West Point education of the 
explorers proved in an eminent degree satisfactory. The 
surveys demonstrated that its graduates w^ere qualified for 
almost any duty. 

To McClelian's labors in this expedition. Secretary of War, 
Jefferson Davis, thus referred, in his report to Congress : 

" The examination of the approaches and passes of the 
Cascade mountains, made by Captain McClellan, of the corps 
of engineers, presents a reconnoissance of great value, and, 
though performed under adverse circumstances, exhibits all 
the information necessary to determine the practicability of 
this portion of the route, and reflects the highest credit on 
the capacity and resources of that ofiicer." Nor was this the 
whole service of this indomitable public servant. In this 
report, its closing words. Secretary Davis says :— " Captain 
McClellan, of the corps of engineers, after the completion of 
nis field operations, was directed to visit various railroads, 
and to collect information and facts established in the con- 



HIS IIATLWAY KEPOKT. 157 

'struction and working of existing roads, to serve as data in 
determining the practicability of constructing and working 
roads over the several routes explored. The results of his 
inquiries will be found in a very valuable memoir herewith 
submitted." 

This allusion to McClellan's labors, succeeding the survey, 
deserves further mention. He w-as chosen to investigate the 
railway system of the United States, with a view to obtain 
all the data on construction, equipping and running, necessary 
to give the Pacific Railway the benefit of all recent experi- 
ence and discoveries in its construction and operation. This 
duty occupied the summer of 1854 McClellan not only 
visited the chief railways in the Northern States, and in- 
spected them thoroughly, but he called to his aid the knowl- 
edge and assistance of several of the best engineers and 
machinists in the country. He thus was enabled to report 
in a very complete manner — his report, in truth, being a 
treatise on railways' which possessed value as such to the 
railway interests of the country. The report was rendered 
early in November, 1854, and gave to the Department the 
most entire satisfaction. Its completeness proved to railroad 
managers and directors of so much interest, that when, a few 
years later, McClellan resigned his commission in the army, 
the railway men sought and obtained his services in the 
management of two of the largest enterprises in the country. 



CHAPTER IV. 

APPOINTED ON THE EUROPEAN MILITARY COMMISSION — HISTORY OF THE 
COMMISSION. 

In the fall of 1854, he was assigned to the first regiment of 
cavalry (regulars). Under date of April 2d, 1855, he was 
called by the War Department to form one of a Commission 
of three United States army ofiicers to proceed to Europe 
and the " Seat of War" for observation and study. In this 
important and interesting service he was associated, as the 



58 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

junior officer, with. Majors Delafield and Mordecai. The 
orders and instructions of tlie Commission were as follows : — 

"War Departivient, Washington, } 
"April 2d, 1855. j" 

"Gentlemen:— 

" You have been selected to form a Commission 
to visit Europe for the purpose of obtaining information with 
regard to the military service in general, and especially the 
practical workings of the changes which have been introduced, 
of late years, into the military systems of the principal nations 
of Europe, 

"Some of the objects to which it is peculiarly desirable to 
direct your attention may be indicated as follows: — 

"The organization of armies and of the departments for 
furnishing supplies of all kinds to the troops, especially in field 
service. The manner of distributing supplies. 

" The fitting up of vessels for transporting men and horses, 
and the arrangements for embarking and disembarking them. 

" The medical and hospital arrangements, both in permanent 
hospitals and in the field. The kind of ambulances or other 
means used for transporting the sick and wounded. 

" The kind of clothing and camp equipage used for service in 
the field. 

"The kinds of arms, ammunition, and accouterments used in 
equipping troops for the various branches of service, and their 
adaptation to the purposes intended. In this respect, the arms 
and equipments of cavalry of all kinds will claim your particular 
attention. 

" The practical advantages and disadvantages attending the 
use of the various kinds of rifle-arms which have been lately 
introduced extensively in European warfare. 

"The nature and efficacy of ordnance and ammunition 
employed for field and siege operations, and the practical effect 
of the late changes partially made in the French field artillery. 

*' The construction of permanent fortifications, the arrange- 
ment of new systems of sea-coast and land defenses, and the 
kinds of ordnance used in the armament of them — the Lancaster 
gun, and other rifle-cannon, if any are used. 

" The composition of trains for siege operations, the kind and 
quantity of ordnance, the engineering operations of a siege in 
all its branches, both of attack and defense. 

" The composition of bridge-trains, kinds of boats, wagons, etc. 

" The construction of casemated forts, and the effects produced 
on them in attacks by land and water. 

" The use of camels for transportation, and their adaptation 
to cold and mountainous countries. 

" To accomplish the objects of your expedition most effectually 
in the shortest time, it appears to be advisable that you should 



INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSION. 59 

proceed as soon as possible to the theater of war in the Crimea, 
for the purpose of observing the active operations in that 
quarter. You will then present yourselves to the commanders 
of the several armies, and request from them such authority 
and facilities as they may be pleased to grant for enabling you 
to make the necessary observations and inquiries. 

"You may find it practicable to enter Sebastopol, and to 
proceed through Russia to St. Petersburg, Vith the view of 
visiting the works and seeing the operations which may be 
carried on in the Baltic. Should it not be possible or advisable 
to enter Russia in this way, you may be abl6 to accomplish the 
same object by passing through Austria and Prussia. In return- 
ing from Russia, you will have an opportunity of seeing the 
military establishments of Prussia, Austria, France and England. 

"The arrangements of your journey must be regulated in a 
general measure by the state of affairs existing on your arrival 
m Europe, and the information you may acquire there. 

"Letters are herewith furaished to you for our ministers in 
Europe, requesting them to furnish you the aid in their power 
in accomplishing the objects of your mission. 

" Funds for defraying the expenses of your journey are placed 
in the hands of Major Mordecai, who will disburse and account 
for them. You are authorized to use a portion of these funds 
in purchasing for this Department new books, drawings, and 
patterns of arms and equipments, which you may consider of 
sufficient value in our service to warrant the expenditure. 

"Reserving until your return to the United States a full 
account of your expedition and the information you may obtain, 
you will report to the Secretary of War, from time to time, as 
opportunity may offer, the progress of your journey, and remarks 
on the subjects within the scope of your instructions which you 
may wish to communicate. 

" All correspondence of this kind, proceeding either from the 
Commission jointly or from any member of it, will be forwarded, 
according to military usage and regulation, through the senior 
officer present. 

" It is desirable that you should return home by the 1st of 
November, 1855. If you should find it essential for effecting 
the objects of your mission in a satisfactory manner to remain 
longer than that time, you will report the circumstances so as 
to give time for an answer in due season. 

" Reliance is placed on your judgment and discretion to con- 
duct your movements in such a manner as to give no reasonable 
ground for suspicion or offense to the military or other govern- 
ment authorities with whom you may have intercourse. 
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

" Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War. 
"Major R. Delafield, Major A. Mordecai, Captain G. B. 
McClellan, United States Armyy 



60 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

The American ministers at London and Paris were at 
once informed of the nature and purposes of the Commission. 
Application was also made to the ministers resident at Wash- 
ington of England, France, Eussia and Austria for such letters 
to their Governments and persons in authority as they might 
choose to give. All answered cheerfully and satisfactorily but 
the French minister. Letters were supplied which would 
enable the Commission to accomplish its purposes fully, by 
giving the entree tb their military establishments, camps, forts, 
armories, navy yards, etc. The refusal of the French minister 
to accord the courtesy of letters introductory was a foreshad- 
owing of the reserve toward the Commission afterward prac- 
ticed by the French Minister' of War and Marshal Pelissier — 
both of whom studiously sought to deny the American officers 
the means of observation consistent with their mission. This 
reserve almost amounted to the cut direct ; and it will ^e 
long before the engineer corps of the United States army will 
forget it. 

As a further comment on the Secretary's plans regarding 
the mission, Mr. Davis' letter to the French minister, M. de 
Sartiges, may be referred to. The minister, in answer to the 
application for letters introductory, had asked the Secretary 
if by the words '■^ seat of war''^ was meant "the camp of the 
allies in the Crimea and no other place whatever." Davis 
replied that the phrase was designed to cover the entire field 
of active operations, in order that useful observations might 
be made wherever opportunity offered — that the first point 
to which the officers would be instructed to proceed would 
be Sebastopol, before which the allied armies of England, 
France and Sardinia were then operating — that they would 
announce their arrival to the commanding Generals, and do 
nothing while there without the proper assent, and when 
they retired it would be by the same route by which they had 
approached the lines of operation, or by some other to which 
no objections should be made — that the second point to be 
visited was Cronstadt, where the Commission would pursue 
the same course of military proiDriety prescribed for their 
conduct in the camp of the allies — that, if other fields promised 
opportunities " for improving our knowledge of the science of 
war," it was necessary that they should be made available if 



INTERVIEW WITH LORD CLARENDON. 61 

possible. Mr. Davis further took the undignified liberty of 
declaring to the Frenchman that the character of the officers 
selected for the missioix gave a full assurance that they would 
comport themselves as became educated soldiers. No other 
minister asked explanations of our Government, and it is to 
be regretted that the Secretary of War found it necessary to 
oflFer to M. de Sartiges the explanations very politely, but, 
nevertheless, very persistently demanded. The reception 
afterward given the Commission by the French emperor and 
Minister of War was such as to render it a source of regret to 
the American people, as well as to the army, that the Secretary 
should have made a second application to M. de Sartiges for 
letters of commend to the French Government. The positively 
discourteous conduct of that Government will appear in the 
recitation of the diary of the Commission, as afterward 
recorded by Major Delafield (the senior officer) in his report 
to the Secretary. Deferring to his right of seniority, the 
other members of the mission left the record of the incidents 
of their journey to Major Delafield ; we, therefore, have no 
personal expression from McClellan regarding his views of 
the reception accorded the American engineers by the French 
military and diplomatic authorities. We can imagine that 
his high sense of honor and of military etiquette must have 
rebelled at the cool indifi"erence — to call it by no other name 
— of the French Marshal Pelissier, and M. de Walewski, the 
French Minister of War. 

The Commission sailed from Boston, April 11th, 'cia London. 
On the 27th of that month an interview was had with Lord 
Clarendon. It was highly satisfactory. The minister volun- 
teered to obtain personally from the War Minister (Lord 
Panmure) the necessary letters of authorization to Lord 
Raglan. " On the 89th," the report by Major Delafield says, 
" Lord Clarendon inclosed letters of introduction to Lord 
Raglan and Sir Edmund Lyons, adding, if in any way he 
could be useful to Major Delafield and his brother officers, or 
assist the mission with which they were charged, he begged 
that they would freely command his services. Introductory 
letters to the Admiral of the Baltic fleet, and to the officers in 
command at Constantinople, were requested, which received 
the like courteous attention." 



63 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

This courtesy and kindly feeling of the English Prime 
Minister was in such contrast with the conduct of the French 
authorities as must have left no doubt on the minds of the 
Commission of the truth of the proposition, that, if John 
Bull was the hereditary enemy of his rebellious son, the 
English people were his friends — if the French Government 
was the hereditary friend of the American Government, 
French despotism was at heart an enemy. 

The Commission hastened to Paris — anxious to expedite 
observations in France, and the journey to the seat of war. 
Major Delafield wrote : — " Changes in the ministry in France 
caused some delay in obtaining an interview with the Minister 
of Foreign Affairs of that Government, to whom the Com- 
mission could alone make known its wishes and obtain such 
official recognition as would secure to it admission to their 
military establishments. Through our minister. Judge Mason, 
we had an interview with Count Walewski, the successor to 
Drouyn de L'Huys. Count Walewski at once promptly 
stated that Judge Mason had explained to him that the Com- 
mission wished to go the Crimea ; that he would be very 
happy to give letters to the commanding General there which 
would procure us the necessary facilities, but that there was 
an imperative rule in the French military service that no 
foreign officer could be permitted to go into their camp, and 
afterward to pass into that of the enemy ; that, therefore, it 
would be necessary for the members of the Commission to 
give a promise to our minister that we would not go from the 
French camp to any other 'part of the Crimea. The Commis- 
sion stated distinctly such was not its purpose, and showed 
him the letter of the Secretary of War, of the 5th of April, to 
M. de Sartiges, as the best explanation of our intentions ; that 
the Commission had no intention of going directly from their 
camp to their enemy's, or from the camp of the allies into 
Sebastopol ; but that it was quite as interesting to them to 
see the defenses as the attack, and that they did propose, after 
visiting the allied camp, to go into Russia ; and, after visiting 
the places on the Baltic, they might wish, after some months 
interval, to visit Sebastopol. Count Walewski replied that 
such an arrangement would not affect the question ; that no 
one could, as a right, ask the privilege of going into their 



THE COMMISSION AND THE FRENCH MINISTER. 63 

camps ; that it might be refused and had been refused without 
assigning any reason ; but that the emperor, wishing to show 
his good disposition toward the United States, would willingly 
consent to our going there on the conditions which he (Count 
Walewski) had mentioned ; that if the Commission chose first 
to go to the Russian side it was no concern of the French. 
Count Walewski requested the Commission to consider the 
matter and inform him of its determination through Judge 
Mason. 

" The Commission then stated that there were many mili- 
tary establishments and objects of interest, in a military point 
of view, in France, which it would be glad to see on its 
journey out of the country, or on returning to it. To which 
Count Walewski replied that on that subject there would be 
no difficulty and the permission would be accorded with 
pleasure. In the course of this conversation Count Walewski 
stated that the imperative rule established by the French 
Government precluded going to any Russian post or army in 
the Crimea at any time after having visited the allied army 
operating in that quarter, and that the rule icould apply to 
entering the Crimea, after conforming icith the instructions of 
the War Department (of the United States) in visiting Cronstadt^'* 

The Commission very properly refused to accept the con- 
tingencies and restrictions which the French minister proposed 
as the price of his letters introductory, and soon informed the 
Count, through Judge Mason, of its determination to proceed 
to the allied camp without the letters of permit to the French 
camp with the restrictions imposed. The Commission, how- 
ever, signified its wish to accept the Count's permit to visit 
the naval and military establishments in France, on their 
return from the East. " This determination was communicated 
to Count Walewski through Judge Mason, with the request 
that he would forward to the Commission by mail the 
authority of the French Government to visit such of the 
enumerated establishments as it might be pleased to grant." 

That authority never came, as the sequel will show. It 
was not until the 28th of May that this fruitless waiting upon 
the pleasure of the French minister to obtain a simple answer 
to a simple request was so far rendered as to permit the 
departure of the Commission for the East. A few days in 



64 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

England bad sufficed to place the American officers in posses- 
sion of the most efficient and com-teous documents necessary 
to fulfill the objects of the Commission where English authority- 
prevailed ; a four weeks' stay in Paris had not sufficed to 
extract from the French Government a single courtesy or 
document of favor — had not obtained for the United States 
Commission any more recognition than would have been 
accorded to any of those mere personal adventurers seeking to 
visit the Crimea as a matter of curiosity. Such a reception 
of a French Commission to the United States Government 
would have been considered a national affront. 

The course of the journey to the East was to St. Petersburg 
via Prussia. At Berlin the reception was very kind, both by 
the Prussian Government and by the Russian minister to 
Berlin, Baron de Budberg — to whom the Eussian minister, 
at Washington had accredited the members of the Commis- 
sion. Of Prussian civility the report said : — " While in Berlin, 
through the kindness of our minister, Mr. Yroom, the Com- 
mission had an interview with Baron Manteuffel, the Minister 
of Foreign Affairs of Prussia, who, in the most prompt 
manner, stated that he had in some measure anticipated the 
wishes of the Commission, and had written to the Minister of 
War in relation to obtaining information in Prussia on the 
art of war as practiced by them, and, in conformity with our 
request, he would give us authority to visit all such places as 
the Commission would name on its route into Prussia on 
returning from St. Petersburg — it having been explained to 
him that the intention was first to go to the Crimea ma War- 
saw, and thereafter to St. Petersburg ; and that he would give 
authority to visit any other of the military establishments of 
Prussia. on making known the wish to do so, after returning 
to Berlin." 

Calling upon the Russian minister, it was found that he, in 
like manner, had informed his Government of the approach 
of the Commission, and had obtained in advance of their visit 
an authorization to extend letters which would facilitate the 
objects of the mission. The Baron called upon the Commis- 
sion, in person, after their first interview, to deliver a sealed 
package for the Baron Krusenstein, at Warsaw. 

On the 4th of June, Warsaw was reached, and the letters 



THE COMMISSION AT WARSAW. 65 

commendatory were dispatched to the Baron. Also, on the 
6th of June, the Commission inclosed for his inspection and 
the information to Prince Paskievitch a copy of documents 
from the American Government and from Baron Stoeckl — 
the Russian minister at Washington — regarding the powers 
and purposes of the Commission — at the same time requesting 
from the Prince the necessary facilities for expediting the 
journey and for attaining the objects of the mission. The 
Baron replied that, the Prince being absent from Warsaw, it 
was not in his power to authorize the Commission to proceed 
to the Crimea, nor to inspect the fortifications of Warsaw and 
Modlin. The Baron, however, promised to write or to see 
the military governor of Warsaw, who, no doubt, would open 
the fortifications under his charge to the American officers. 

From some singular omission the Baron Krusenstein had 
not been officially informed of the official character of the 
mission. The letter and inclosures of June 6th were to give 
him that formal knowledge. He received the documents from 
the officers in person, June 7th. After a perusal of their 
letter he courteously returned the documents as unnecessary 
— their letter sufficed. 

June 9th — the Prince having returned — authority was given 
to visit the fortifications at Warsaw and Modlin, and a Colonel 
of Engineers ordered to accompany the Commission and ex- 
plain to them every thing desired. The Prince, however, 
informed the Americans that he could give no authority for 
them to proceed direct to the Crimea, and recommended 
them to proceed to St. Petersburg, where, alone, authority to 
visit the seat of war could be obtained. This news was 
equally a surprise and an annoying disappointment to the 
anxious officers, since the delay would compel the loss of 
precious time — any moment might announce the general and 
final assault of Sebastopol, which they were so solicitous to 
witness. There was no other course left but to follow the 
Prince's advice, though the fact that the Russian Government 
had been previously officially notified, by its minister at 
Washington, as well as by its minister at Berlin, of the char- 
acter of the mission, and therefore well knew its requirements, 
and yet had laid an embargo on it at Warsaw, was evidence 
that it, like France, was not inclined to open its lines to the 



66 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

scrutiny of the American engineers. It was this consciousness 
which so disappointed the Commissioners. The report says : 

" Altliougli mucli profitable information was obtained at 
Warsaw and Modlin, the great object of the Commission had 
not yet been entered upon — both France and Russia interpos- 
ing unexplained difficulties through the meshes of diplomacy, 
all of which would have been avoided by going, as many 
civilians had done and continued to do, direct to Sebastopol, 
ma Constantinople. This course was, however, denied to the 
Commission, from the very fact of being in a national capacity 
for public purposes, which could only be recognized and 
sanctioned through the formula of diplomacy." 

The three officers found palliation for their disappointment 
in the prospect of witnessing the descent of the English fleet 
on Cronstadt.* The senior officer said : — " The probability 
of witnessing a bombardment of the works of Cronstadt by 
the allied fleet, and the great military events in that quarter, 
together with the fact of our instructions requiring a study 
and examination of these important sea-coast defenses, in some 
measure compensated for the disappointment experienced in 
not going direct to Sebastopol." 

June 19th found the three engineers at St. Petersburg. An 
interview was obtained with the Prime Minister, Count 
Nesselrode, June 25th, when the object of the mission was 
stated at length, and the request again preferred to be per- 
mitted to proceed to Sebastopol. No answer was then given. 

June 26th the Commission was, by special invitation of the 
emperor, present at a grand review. " The troops being 
drawn up on three sides of a square, the Minister of* "War, 
Count Dalgourouki, conducted us to the center, the Emperor's 
station, and there presenting us, a short conversation ensued 
— the interesting part of which was his assent to our going to 
Cronstadt, and ending with a declaration on his part of the 
hope that the United States and Russia would continue 
always in peace and friendship. In the afternoon of the 
same day Lieutenant-Colonel Obrescofi", of the Guard, and aid- 

* Admiral Napier, it will be remembered, had promised the English 
people, on the day of sailing, to "be in Cronstadt or in Heaven in three 
weeks." Althoiigh the old soldier did not enter Cronstadt at all, we will 
not doubt that he entered the other port named. As he, not long afterwai-d, 
passed the waters of the limitless sea, let us hope heaven opened wide ita 
gates at his sours approach. 



THE COMMISSION AT ST. PETERSBURG. 67 

de-camp of Prince Dalgourouki, called upon us by direction 
of the ]\Iinister of War, to accompany us to the several military 
establishments in the vicinity that we had expressed the desire 
to examine, including Cronstadt. During the absence of the 
Minister of War, Colonel Obrescoff was directed to report to 
Baron Leiven, the Adjutant-General, to whose care and 
attention our business had been confided." 

These attentions were unremitting, up to July 9th. Under 
the guidance of Colonel Obrescoff, every leading fortress and 
military establishment in the vicinity of St. Petersburg were 
examined minutely and notes of the observations were pre- 
pared at length. As those fortifications were among the 
best in the world (at that time reputed to be the best), the 
privilege conceded was one which afforded the Commission 
equal pleasure and profit. 

Still no answer to the request preferred of Count Nessel- 
rode, to be permitted to visit the Crimea. Baron Leiven had 
also been solicited to use his influence with the Emperor for 
the permit required, but no little password came. July 9th 
the Commission wrote to the acting War Minister that, their 
labors being completed in the vicinity of the capital, they 
would be happy to know what arrangements were to be 
made for their departure. " On the 13th of July Baron 
Leiven called on us and then stated that, on the subject of 
Sebastopol, Sveaborg and Revel, he must speak with frankness 
and sincerity to us, that his country had no secrets or infor- 
mation on military science to withhold from us, as we had 
seen by the manner in which their establishments here were 
thrown open to our examination ; but that the commanding 
officers of those places had requested that strangers or other 
persons not concerned in the operations should not be per- 
mitted to visit them, as such visits occasioned them a great 
deal of embarrassment ; * * * and, although the Emperor 
might overrule such objections, yet he felt bound to pay 
deference to the views and wishes of his commanders placed 
in such responsible positions ; therefore our request could not 
he granted ; that, as to forts of Sebastopol, on seeing Cron- 
stadt we would see the best works that had been constructed 
for harbor defenses ; that the forts of Revel were of no interest, 
and those of Sveaborg were old Swedish works on a system 



68 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

no longer followed, and that those of Sebastopol were on the 
same plan as those of Cronstadt, but of inferior material, being 
of limestone mixed with sand." All of which was conclusive ; 
there was no appeal. 

July 14th, a drill of cavalry was expressly ordered for the 
Commissioners' attention — affording a fine opportunity for 
McClellan's quick eye to catch those " points" which he was 
so soon to adapt to the American service.- On the 15th, the 
Camp Crasno Cello was visited, where fifty thousand infantry 
and artillery were quartered in field life. On the 17th, Cronstadt 
was again visited for more particular inspection of certain 
sections. A number of officers of the engineer corps accom- 
panied the Americans, giving their information fully and 
cordially. What a contrast with the reception of the 
Americans, a few months later, by the French officers ! 

July 19th, the Commission proceeded to Moscow, where 
it was received with every attention. Under the guidance of 
Prince Ouroussoff, the tour of observation was made — including 
the Kremlin. 

August 2d, the Commission left St. Petersburg for the South, 
by way of Prussia and Vienna. At Kouigsburg, the extensive 
system of fortification then under construction was carefully 
inspected. At Dantzig, the old and late defenses of that 
famous city were studied. At Posen, the great fortress was 
thoroughly explored. All these works embodied the German 
system of construction, in the completest degree, xlt the 
mouth of the Oder, the fine casemated sea-coast defenses were 
particularly observed. A special telegram from the Prussian 
Minister of War opened them for inspection. To the great 
world they were sealed. At Schwedt, the school of equitation 
(horsemanship) was visited and its several departments inves- 
tigated with much interest. 

On the 25th of August the Commission returned to renew 
its request for admittance to the arsenals, barracks, etc., in 
Berlin and Spandau. Up to September 4th no answer had 
been received, when the American desire to see all induced 
the officers to call in person upon the Minister of War, Count 
Waldersee. He very promptly gave them special tickets of 
admission to " eleven enumerated establishments." This waa 
the open sesame which threw wide the doors of manufactories 



THE COMMISSION IN THE CRIMEA. 69 

laboratories and magazines not often explored by strangers. 
The favor was still further increased. Baron Manteuffel, 
through Governor Vroom, took occasion " to respond to each 
and every request, authorizing drawings of barracks, of the 
arsenal at Spandau and its machinery, with books of regulations 
and other matters, to be furnished on the personal application 
of the Commission." More could not have been granted ; 
and the report made b}^ the officers, individually, upon their 
return to the United States, proved how fully they profited 
by the favors extended by the cordial Germans. 

September IGtli found the Commission at Constantinople, 
having made the journey via Dresden, Trieste and Smj'-rna, 
Baron Tecas, the Sardinian minister, supplied the Commission 
with cordial letters to General La Marmora, Commander-in- 
Chief of the Piedmontese army. The English naval authori- 
ties gave the Americans passage on the first steamer for 
Balaklava, where tliey arrived October 8th — nearly three 
months later than was contemplated when the instructions of 
the Commission were made up at Washington. The time 
was lost chiefly in dancing attendance upon diplomats. 

The Commander-in-Chief of the English forces in the East, 
General Simpson (Lord Raglan having retired), learning of 
the arrival of the Commission, immediately dispatched two 
of his staff to conduct the Americans to quarters which he 
had assigned to them, on Cathcart Hill — a location command- 
ing, to a great extent, the field of operations. The report by 
Major Delafield says : 

" He caused us to be provided with rations for ourselves 
and servants and forage for our horses during our entire 
sojourn in the Crimea. Every official and personal facility 
and kindness were extended to us by the officers of the Eng- 
lish army ; and to General La Marmora we were indebted for 
his courteous attention in detailing an officer of rank from his 
stafi" to conduct us through the Sardinian camps and outposts. 
During the whole period the Commission remained in the 
Crimea an officer of the English army, under the authority of 
General Simpson, was our daily companion to escort us 
wherever there was any thing of interest to be seen, accom- 
panied on several occasions by their engineer officerg." 

The usage received at the hands of the French General^ 



70 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

in chief command, was scarcely polite. Several efforts were 
made to obtain an interview with Marshal Pelissier, " to pay 
our respects to the successful General of the campaign, to 
explain to him the orders of our Government and the fact of 
not having to that date received the authority of the French 
Government to visit their camps, as anticipated from the 
conversations with Count Walewski, at Paris, in May." The 
entire story of the consideration extended to the Commission 
by the French may be given in the word — non-recognition. 
With the exception of kindness at the hands of a few officers 
in the engineer corps no favor was bestowed upon the Ameri- 
cans. Pelissier treated them with downright discourtesy. 

" The result was," the report said, " that the Commission 
confined its examination to the camps, depots, parks, work- 
shops, etc., of the English, Sardinian and Turkish armies, 
never entering the French camps in the Crimea except on 
visits of courtesy." 

The observations being as complete as circumstances would 
admit, the Commission departed from the Crimea November 2d, 
returning again to Constantinople, where (and at Scutari) the 
hospitals and depots of the allies were inspected, their systems 
learned, and many useful sanitary hints obtained as well as 
imparted. The defenses of Varna were also visited. 

The Commission returned to Vienna via Trieste and the 
Semmering railway. This remarkable railway is one of the 
wonders of modern engineering skill, and our officers took 
quite as much interest in its examination as in the study of 
fortifications and arsenals. December 16th Vienna was 
reached. 

The reception of the Americans by the Austrian authorities 
is thus chronicled in the report : " From the Grand Dukes 
William and Leopold — the former as commander of the army 
and the latter as chief engineer — we received authority to visit 
their military and naval establishments in Venice, Verona, 
Mantua and Milan, which occupied us between the 14th and 
25th of January. At Venice the Governor ordered an officer 
of engineers to accompany and throw open to us all matter 
of interest in that city and vicinity, at the same ordering his 
steam yacht to convey us about the lagunes and harbor 
defeases. At Verona we were most kindly received by the 



ARRIVAL AT LYONS. 71 

veteran hero, Marshal Radetsky, who contributed in every 
way to the attainment of our wishes, as well as to our per- 
sonal gratification. An oflBcer of engineers was here also 
ordered to accompany us to the military establishments, 
which, being recent modifications on an extensive scale, 
according to the present German system of fortification 
ingrafted on the old bastion system, were of especial interest. 
To our minister at Vienna, Mr. Jackson, we took occasion to 
say that, in all our intercourse with the functionaries charged 
with the various establishments we had been authorized to 
visit, facilities and courteous receptions had invariably been 
extended to us ; and that our intercourse with the officers of 
the Austrian Government and army had been every way 
agreeable, calling for an expression of our most respectful 
acknowledgments." The importance of the w^orks at the 
chief cities named, viz. : Venice, Verona, Milan, etc., in the 
scale of military materiel and structure, rendered their study 
even of greater value than any works yet opened to their 
inspection — Cronstadt not excepted. The courtesy of the 
Austrians was, therefore, all the more gratefully accepted. 

The Commission proceeded to France via Genoa — at which 
city the fortifications were visited. Arrived at Toulon, the 
peimission accorded by Count Walewski, in May, to visit the 
fortifications and constructions in France, was so far accepted 
as to induce the inspection of the fine works, military and 
naval, at that old seaport. No special attention was given 
the Commission — not an officer offering to conduct them. 
Printed tickets of admission were given the Americans — such 
as were given to all visitors — and a porter passed around with 
them, as their escort of honor. "We can hardly wonder that, 
as private gentlemen as well as the official representatives of 
a great and powerful Government, the members of the Com- 
mission felt a degree of mortification at their " French recep- 
tion." The inspection made, however, was very minute, as 
the report of Major Delafield, on that fine naval depot, 
testifies. 

Spending a day or two at Marseilles, to inspect the system 
of cavalry and supplies transportation (to which McClellan 
devoted special attention), the three officers arrived, January 
8th, at Lyons — the city of fortresses. Marshal Castillon gave 



72 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

the Americans the necessary permission of visit, and, accom- 
panied by a non-commissioned officer the tour of inspection 
was made. Belfort was also opened to them by tickets of 
admission. At both Lyons and Belfort the systems of Vauban, 
and of the more recent constructors and architects, were the 
theme of observation and verification. 

At the memorable old frontier town of Strasbourg — redolent 
of historical associations and noted in song — General Grouchy 
exercised his rights as commander to detail an officer of engi- 
neers and one of artillery to accompany the Commission in 
its tour through fortresses, hospitals, barracks, shops, etc. 

Proceeding to the German territory again, the officers took 
in Rastadt on their route to Coblentz. Ko authority from the 
German authorities having been given, the extensive fortifica- 
tions at Rastadt were but glanced at, from a mere walk 
through the city. At Coblentz, the authority of Count 
Waldersee again threw open the strongholds of Prussian 
science to their eyes and notes. 

Proceeding to Cologne, no jDermit for its inspection having 
been forwarded to the commandant, that noted stronghold of 
old engineering genius was not examined. 

At Liege, in Belgium, the national foundry of artillery and 
the manufactory for small-arms, were carefully inspected — two 
days being spent in those busy and finely-developed centers 
of Dutch skill in the construction of implements of war.* 

The 1st of March found the Commission once more in 
Paris. Armed with a general permit, and having, as a special 
honor, a sergeant for a guide, the Commission inspected Vin- 
cennes, where two days were fully occupied. A personal 
application to the Minister of War failed to obtain a permit to 
visit the depots and foundries of artiHery. These were sealed 
to all scrutiny. Cherbourg was examined by the general 

* The town of Liege is quite celebrated for its specialite of arms. Besides 
the Government foundry and shops, numerous private manufactories are 
in operation, producing immense qiuxntities of muskets, rifles, pistols, 
swords, sabers, etc., which have found their way to all parts of the civilized 
(and therefore Ji(/hting f) v.'orld. The number stated as manufactured in 
1854 was 51)2,000 stands of small-arms. The business has increased yearly 
since that time. Under the impetus of the demand in Central Europe and 
Italy, in 1S58-9, the Liege shops turned out over 1,300,000 stands of arms. 
In 1860-61 the call of America again threw increased zeal into the shops ; 
aatt it is estimated that over 2,000,000 stands were finished in the twelve 
months of 1861. Most of these arms found their way to the loyal States. 
To England belongs the honor of having supplied the disloyal States. 



IN ENGLA.ND ONCE MORE. 73 

permit granted all strangers, in company with a non-commis- 
sioned attendant. The Havre defenses were explored in the 
same manner. 

It must have been with a sense of relief that the Commis- 
sion again struck English soil after their few days' sojourn 
under the reign of French mystery and exclusiveness.* 

The 24tli of March found them in London. Up to April 
12th, owing to some fault of the " circumlocution ofhce,"- the 
officers did not receive the necessary documents from the War 
Department which were required to give them the right of 
entry and inspection to the English establishments, military 
and naval. "On the 13th," the report says, "Mr. Dallas 
received a note from the foreign oflSce, assuring him that 
orders had been issued by the War Department and Board of 
Admiralty for our admission to the naval and military estab- 
lishments enumerated in our request; and thereafter we 
visited the arsenal and dock-yards at Woolwich and vessels 
at Portsmouth, and the defenses near Yarmouth, on the Isle 
of Wight, and received every courtesy and facility we could 
desire from the military and naval officers at those stations, 
in furthering the object of our visit. The last official act of 
the Government was an invitation, through Mr. Dallas, to be 
present at the review of the fleet at Portsmouth. When at 
Liverpool we received a communication from General Wether- 
ell, dated the previous day (April 17th), from the Horse- 
Guards, stating that the Field Marshal and Commander-in- 
Chief, having learned that our minister had made known our 
desire to see the military establishments of England, he had 
ordered that every facility should be afforded us in our visits 
on receiving an intimation of the stations we intended to 
visit; and, understanding that we were then at Liverpool, 
Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith, Bart., G. C. B., com- 
manding at Manchester, had been directed to place a staff 
officer in communication with us with a view to our admission 

* However well disposed the people of France may be toward the people 
of other nations, it is painfully evident that they live under an iron rule. 
The almost numberless fortresses and foundries of the Napoleon dynasty 
are quite as much for defense against its own subjects as against the outer 
world. The rule adopted for the government of the French army— behind 
which rale the authorities, from Count Walewski down to a grenadier, 
took refuo-e to excuse their discourtesies— unquestionably is founded m 
the "necessities " of their Government, which depends for its existence 
upon the secret power by which Napoleon controls his military resonrces. 



74 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLxVN. 

to the establishments situated in the northern and midland 
districts of England. An oflScer of the Dragoon Guards called 
to accompany us and carry iijto effect the wishes of the 
Coraniiander-in-Chief." 

The kind offer came too late, as the Commission had 
already prepared for the return home. It sailed, April 19th, 
from Liverpool — reaching the United States safely after an 
absence of but a few days over a year. 



CHAPTER V. 

THB EEPORTS OF THE COMMISSIOX — MAJOR DELAFIELd's REPORT — MC CLEL- 
LAN's report — ITS IMPORTANT CHARACTER — HIS DETAIL OF THE OPERA- 
TIONS BEFORE SEBASTOPOL HIS VIEWS ON THE FORTIFICATION OP OUR 

COASTS AND HARBORS — HIS SUGGESTIONS FOR AH ARMY — MAJOR MORDE- 
CAl'S REPORT. 

The reports made by the officers of the Commission after 
their return form volumes of great quarto, in the " Congres- 
sional" publication. They are most elaborately illustrated, 
while in subject matter they form the most valuable contribu- 
tion to our military literature which has been made for many 
years — more valuable, indeed, than any works issued during 
the last twenty years, by European writers and engineers, 
which are available to our countrymen. 

The volume from the hands of Major Delafield was devoted 
to a very exhaustive sketch of the Crimean campaign by the 
allies, giving, as an accompaniment, minute details of the 
operations, from the landing at Balaklava to the final assault, 
with much aside information, as well as elaborate maps and 
views of the works of both Russians and allies. It also made 
a specialite of fortification construction, arms and arrangement ; • 
and, in this respect, becomes a virtual text-book to American 
engineers and constructionists. As the Commission had the 
ent7'ee to all the most noted fortifications of the continent, as 
well as to the arsenals, foundries and laboratories of the 
Prussians, Austrians and English, the skilled eyes and hands 
of the American engineers were not remiss in noting, with 



MC clellan's keport. 75 

great minuteness, all the new and useful things appertaining 
to the art of war which came before them. The United 
States Government certainly never placed money to a wiser 
use than in the direction of that Commission and the publica- 
tion of its three elaborate reports. 

•The volume from the hands of Captain McCllellan was the 
first of the three submitted (February 25th, 1857). Its nature 
will be inferred from its contents, which we quote as showing 
its comprehensive yet minute character : 

" Report on the operations in the Crimea, with a historical 
sketch of the campaign and strictures on its conduct. 

" Reports upon the European troops, embracing a resume 
of the systems of the Russians, Prussians, Austrians, French 
and English. 

" Report upon the French, Austrian, Prussian and Sardinian 
infantry, with a digest of their composition, regulations, etc. 

" Report upon the Russian army, comprising, 1st, organiza- 
tion, uniform, recruiting, rations, etc. ; 2d, the instruction and 
tactics of cavalry ; 3d, the equipments, arms, stables, horses, 
etc., of cavalry ; 4th, on the Russian infantry. 

" Report on the Prussian cavalry. 

*' Report on the Austrian cavalry. 

'' Report on the French cavalry. 

" Report on the English and Sardinian cavalry. 

" Report on the United States cavalry." 

This was also followed (in the same volume) by " The 
Begulations and Instructions for the Field Service of Cavalry^ in 
time of war, for the United States Army.'''' 

The several reports were very full expositions of the several 
systems in use in the best armies, and serve to show how 
intimately acquainted Captain McClellan was with the subject 
in all its features. His final report, devoted to the United 
States cavalry, was an embodiment of his suggestions in 
regard to its reorganization, so as to adapt it to the 
improved condition of that arm of service as perfected by the 
European nations. The last section of the volume, as stated, 
was devoted to a manual of instruction and regulations for the 
United States army cavalry. la the preface modestly 
announcing his work the author said : — 

"I have translated from the original Russian, and have 



76 THE LIFE OF GEOKGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

endeavored to adapt tliem (the regulations, etc.) to our own 
organization, preserving the original arrangement, and adding 
merely a few minor details suggested by the recollections of 
former readings and of service In the field. It is more than 
probable that they will be found to fill usefully an important 
want in our military literature; while they undoubtedly are 
based upon true military principles." 

This adverts to the fact of the writer's acquaintance with 
the Russian language. While in Russia the Captain was an 
arduous student of that uncouth and severe idiom of the 
descendants of the Tartars ; and so readily mastered its lingual 
and idiomatic structure as to be able to converse Mathout 
diflSculty with the native Russ. Already a thorough French 
scholar from his West Point education, with a good command 
of Spanish, and a reading knowledge of German, the acquisi- 
tion of Russian served to elevate the Captain into the category 
of linguistic scholars. 

The "regulations" have since been republished in conven- 
ient 12mo form for use as a text-book in the service, which 
it has become — making the second manual from his hand. 

The portion of the Commission report possessed of popular 
interest is that devoted to the " Operations in the Crimea," 
wherein the Captain at once becomes the critic and the 
historian. The paper now possesses a two-fold interest, since 
the once Captain of cavalry has become the Captain of a 
country — the author of campaigns and the director of armies, 
who, in his turn, must pass through the ordeals of criticism 
and stricture. The historical sketch is stated with clearness 
and directness. The close, concise manner in which he, as 
author, treats every subject upon which he writes, indicates 
the nature of the man. 

We may quote from his narrative a few paragraphs that 
dispel some of the illusions which prevailed regarding the 
formidable character of the Russian defenses at Sebastopol : 

" From the preceding hasty and imperfect account of the 
defenses of Sebastopol, it will appear how little foundation 
there was for the generally received accounts of the stupen- 
dous dimensions of the M^orks, and of new systems of fortifi- 
cations brought into play. The plain truth is that these 
defenses were simplj^ temporari/ fortifications of rather greater 
dimensions than usual, and that not a single new principle of 



PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY FORTIFICATIONS. 77 

engineering was there developed. It is true that there were 
several novel minor details, such as the rope mantelet (a huge 
apron of hemp ropes to shield the men at the guns from the 
rifle-shots of the French sharp-shooters), the use of iron tanks, 
etc. ; but the whole merit consisted in the admirable adapta- 
tion of well-known principles to the peculiar locality and 
circumstances of the case. Neither can it be asserted that 
the plans of the various works were perfect. On the contrary, 
there was no impropriety in believing that if Todtleben (the 
•celebrated Russian engineer-in-chief) was called upon to do 
the work over again, he would probably introduce close-flank- 
ing arrangements. 

" These remarks are not intended to, nor can they, detract 
from the reputation of the Russian engineer. His labors and 
their results will be handed down in history as the most 
triumphant and enduring monument of the value of fortifica- 
tions, and his name rnust ever be placed in the first rank of 
military engineers. But, in our admiration of the talent and 
energy of the engineer, it must not be forgotten that the inert 
masses which he raised would have been useless without the 
skillful artillery and heroic infantry who defended them. 
Much stronger places than Sebastopol have often fallen under 
far less obstinate and Avell-combined attacks than that to 
which it was subjected. There can be no danger in express- 
ing the conviction that the siege of Sebastopol called forth 
the most magnificent defense of fortifications that has ever 
yet occurred. 

" This would seem to be the proper place to notice a 
popular fallacy which, for a time at least, gained extensive 
credence. It was, that the siege of Sebastopol proved the 
superiority of temporary (earthen) fortifications over those of 
a permanent nature. It is easy to show that it proved noth- 
ing of the kind — that it only demonstrated temporary works, 
in the hands of a brave and skillful garrison, are susceptible 
of a longer resistance than was generally supposed. They 
were attacked as field-works never were before, and were 
defended as field-works never had been defended. The 
main diff'erence between properly-constructed permanent 
fortifications (intended to resist a siege) and temporary works 
is, that the latter seldom present an insuperable obstacle 



78 TnE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

against assault, while the former always do. In addition, 
permanent works have a better command over an adjacent 
country and are more carefully and perfectly planned. The 
masonry walls, which render an assault impossible, can not be 
seen from the distance, and can be destroyed only by estab- 
lishing batteries on the crests of the glacis or the edge of the 
ditch ; the earthen parapets alone being visible beyond that 
point, they may, until the besiegers arrive there, be regarded 
in the same light as field-works, with the difference that the 
-garrison are not harassed by the necessity of constantly being 
prepared to repel an assault. Now, in the siege of Sebastopol, 
the trenches of the besiegers never reached the edge of the 
ditch ; so that, had the fortification been a permanent one, 
the most difficult, slow, ^and dangerous part of the siege 
remained to be undertaken, viz. : the crowning of the covered 
way, the establishment of the breach batteries, the descent 
and passage of the ditch, and the assault of the breach ; in 
other words, at the moment when the weakness of the tempo- 
rary works became apparent and fatal, the true strength of 
the permanent defenses would have commenced coming into 
play." 

This is clear, devoid of tautology, and not without the 
graces of composition. The ideas enunciated are of interest 
as showing the views of the present Commander-in-Chief 
regarding the proper mode of securing our seaboard from the 
dangers of a descent by a powerful enemy. 

The narrative of the storming of the Redan is so graphic 
that we may here quote it, as an admirable specimen of narra- 
tive and criticism which the army of newspaper " special 
correspondents" would do well to study: 

" A few minutes later than the assault upon the Malakoff 
the English attacked the Redan. The Russians being now 
upon the alert, tliey did not pass over the open space before 
them without loss ; but the mass succeeded in crossing the 
ditch and in gaining the salient work. Finding themselves 
entirely unsupported they at once took shelter behind the 
traverses, from whence the examples and efforts of their 
officers did not avail to draw them, in order to occupy the 
work closing the gorge. Having in vain used every effort — 
having dispatched every officer of his staff to the rear urging 



THE STORMING OP THE MALAKOFF. 79 

that supports should at once be sent up, and seeing that the 
Russians were now beginning to assemble in force, the com- 
mander of the English storming-party reluctantly determined 
to proceed himself to obtain reinforcements. Scarcely had he 
reached the trenches, and at last obtained authority to move 
up the required succor, when, upon turning to lead them 
forward, he saw the party he had left in the work rapidly 
and hopelessly driven out at the point of the bayonet. No 
further effort was made to carry the work. It would, in all 
probability, have failed, and could only have caused a useless 
sacrifice of men. 

" The failure of the English assault may be attributed partly 
to the fact that their advanced trenches were too small to 
accommodate the requisite force without confusion, in part to 
their not being pushed sufficiently near the Redan, but chiefly 
to that total absence of conduct and skill in their arrangements 
for the assault which left the storming-party entirely without 
support. Had it been followed at once by strong reinforce- 
ments, it is almost certain that the English would have 
retained possession of the work. 

" The two French attacks on the west of the central ravine 
were probably intended only as feints; at all events, the 
parties engaged were soon driven back to their trenches with 
considerable loss — having effected nothing. Their attempts 
on the Little Redan, and the works connecting it with the 
Malakoff, met with even less success than the English assault. 
The Russians repulsed the French with great loss, meeting 
with the bayonet the more adventurous men who reached the 
parapet. Thus, in five points out of six, the defenders were 
fully victorious ; but, unfortunately for them, the sixth was 
the decisive point. 

" In their admirable arrangements for the attack of the 
Malakoff, the French had ascertained that the Russians were 
in the habit of relieving the guard of the Malakoff at noon, 
and that the great part of the old guard marched out before 
the new one arrived, in order to avoid the loss which would 
arise from crowding the work with men ; in the second place, 
it was determined to keep up a most violent vertical fire until 
the very moment of the assault — thus driving the Russians 
into the bomb-proofs and enabling the storming-part^ to enter 



80 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

the -work with but little opposition. The hour of noon was, 
therefore, selected for the assault ; and the strong columns 
intended for the work were, at an earl}^ hour, assembled in 
the advanced trenches, all in admirable order, and furnished 
with precise instructions. . 

"The mortars maintained an unremitting fire until the 
moment appointed. The very moment the last volley was 
discharged the storming-party of Zouaves rushed over the 
thirty paces before them, and were in the w^ork before the 
Russians knew what had happened. It was stated that this 
party lost but eleven men in entering the work. Other 
troops advanced rapidly to the support of the storming-party ; 
a bridge was formed by rolling up five ladders with planks 
lashed to them ; a communication was at once commenced 
between the advanced trench and the bridge ; brigade after 
brigade passed over ; the redoubt was at once occupied by the 
storming-party ; and thus the MalakoflP— and, with it, Sebas- 
topol — was won. The few Russians remaining in the works 
made a desperate resistance. Many gallant attempts were 
made by Russian columns to ascend the steep slope in the 
rear to regain the lost work, but the road was narrow, diffi- 
cult and obstructed, the position strong and the French in 
force. All their furious eiforts were in vain, and the Malakoff 
remained in the possession of those who had so gallantly and 
skillfully won it. 

" With regard to the final retreat [of the Russians] to the 
north side it can only be said that a personal examination of 
the locality merely confirms its necessity, as well as the 
impression so generally entertained that it was the finest 
operation of the war. So admirably was it carried out that not 
a straggler remained behind ; a few men so severely wounded 
as to be unfit for rough and hurried transportation were the 
sole ghastly human trophies that remained to the allies. 

"The retreat, being a more difficult operation than the 
assault, may be worthy of higher admiration; but the 
Russian retreat to the north side, and the French assault upon 
the Malakoff, must each be regarded as a masterpiece of its 
kind, deserving the closest study. It is difficult to imagine 
what point in either can be criticised, for both evinced 
consummate skill, discipline, coolness and courage." 



SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ARMY. 81 

The closing portion of the sketch has a direct application 
to the United States system of defense. It is important and 
interesting enough to bear reproduction : 

" It is believed that a calm consideration of the events so 
hastily and imperfectly narrated in the preceding pages, must 
lead all unprejudiced persons among our countrymen to a 
firm conviction on two vital points : 

" 1st. That our system of permanent coast defenses is a wise 
and proper one, which ought to be completed and armed 
with the least possible delay. 

" 2d. That mere individual courage can not suffice to over- 
come the forces that would be brought against us, were we 
involved in an European war ; but that such courage must 
be rendered manageable by discipline, and directed by that 
consummate and mechanical military skill which can only be 
acquired by a course of education, instituted for the special 
purpose, and by long habit. 

" In the day of sailing-vessels, the successful siege of Sebas- 
topol would have been impossible. It is evident that the 
Kussians did not appreciate the advantages afforded by steam- 
ers, and were unprepared to sustain a siege. 

" This same power of steam would enable European nations 
to disembark upon our shores even a larger force than that 
which finally encamped around Sebastopol. To resist such 
an attack, should it ever be made, our cities and harbors 
must be fortified, and these fortifications must be provided 
with guns, ammunition, and instructed artillerists. To repel 
the advance of such an army into the interior, it is not enough 
to trust to the number of brave but undisciplined men that 
we can bring to bear against it. 

" An invading army of fifteen thousand or twenty thousand 
men could easily be crushed by the unremitting attacks of 
superior numbers ; but when it comes to the case of more 
than one hundred thousand disciplined veterans, the very- 
multitude brought to bear against them works its own 
destruction, because, if without discipline and instruction, 
they can not be handled, and are in their own way. We 
can not afford a Moscow campaign. 

" Our regular army never can, and perhaps never ought, to 
be large enough to provide for all the contingencies that may 



82 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

arise ; but it should be as large as its ordinary avocations in 
the defense of the frontier will justify ; the number of oflacers 
and non-commissioned officers should be unusually large, to 
provide for a sudden increase ; and the greatest possible care 
should be bestowed upon the instruction of the special arms 
of the artillery and engineer troops. The militia and volun- 
teer system should be placed upon some tangible and eflFective 
basis ; instructors furnished them from the regular army, and 
all possible means taken to spread sound military information 
among them. 

" In the vicinity of our sea-coast fortifications, it would be 
well to provide a sufficient number of volunteer companies 
with the means of instruction in heavy artillery, detailing 
officers of the regular artillery as instructors, who should, at 
the same time, be in charge of, and responsible for, the guns 
and material. 

" In time of war, or where war is imminent, local companies 
of regular artillery might easily be enlisted for short terms 
of service, or for the war, in sea-coast towns. The same thing 
might advantageously be carried into effect, on a small scale, 
in times of peace." 

This was dated January 14th, 1857. How wise its admo- 
nitions read five years later, when our relations to Great 
Britain promised war with that great power ! How helpless 
the Union found its armies when, at the bugle-note of alarm, 
they gathered around its capital ! The words of the young 
Captain were fearfully verified in the sad disaster which befell 
the undisciplined host, in its first great battle ; and the nation 
then awoke, not only to a fuller knowledge of the strength of 
the foe it liad to meet, but also to a realization of the need 
of discipline, to direct the five hundred thousand men under 
arms in its defense. The first disaster came with a crushing 
blow, carrying with it, not only a thousand lives, but also 
filling with mortification the patriotic American heart that 
such a calamity should have come to its arms, from such a 
cause. It was a dear lesson, but it produced good fruits. 

The third report made by the Commission came from 
Major Mordecai. Its specialite was ordnance and military 
organization, in which it was very complete. It was one of 
the ablest expositions of modern gunnery and construction 



NECESSITY OP A STANDING ARMY. 83 

which had been given to the student and soldier ; while, as 
a popular treatise, it possessed extreme interest. It also con- 
tained a translation of the report of the French War Minister 
to the Emperor, on the administrative arrangements for the 
war in the East. Also a full treatise on the small-arms of the 
several European nations, particularly referring to the cele- 
brated rifled arms then recently introduced. The last section 
contained a translation, at length, of the complete work of 
Captain J. SchOn, on rifled infantry arms. 

It will be seen by this record of the character of the 
reports submitted by the three Commissioners, not only how 
well chosen were the men for the duty, but what an import- 
ant influence their expositions must have had upon the 
American profession of arms. We truly have had no " sys- 
tem" in our military organization — having been left much to 
the exigencies of the hour. Our people are so decidedly 
averse to a standing army — disliking its aristocratic tendency 
and its expense — that there has, for many years, been a 
growing tendency to actual military disorganization. Had 
it not been for the claims of our western frontiers to protec- 
tion, it is doubtful if our " army" would have had an 
existence. The Southern Rebellion found us, as a nation, 
powerless against the uprising. The forts which had cost 
the country vast sums to construct, were barely held by a 
corporal's guard, and their seizure, with all their fine arma- 
ments, was easily efi"ected by wretched mobs, led by half 
sober leaders, who knew the art of war chiefly from having 
long worn a bowie-knife. The arsenals, forts, and navy-yards 
of the Government should have been protected by at least 
fifty thousand men, and our countrymen learned their mistake 
only too late. The future history of the country must tell 
a diflerent story :— a " standing army," of from fifty to seventy- 
five thousand men, must become one of the settled material 
forces of the Government, if in time of peace we would be 
prepared for war. Democratic or not, such a force of trained 
and ever ready men is to become one of the necessities of 
a wise protection of our exposed and widely extended 
territory. 



84 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAK 



CHAPTER VI. 

RESIGNATION OF COMMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES SERVICE — ACCEPTS 
THE POSITION OF VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ILLINOIS 
CENTRAL RAILROAD — HIS EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT — IS CHOSEN GENERAL 
SUPERINTENDENT, ETC., OF THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD — RE- 
SOLVES TO ANSWER THE CALL TO ARMS — IS MADE MAJOR-GENERAL OF THE 
OHIO TROOPS — THE DEPARTMENT OF OHIO CREATED — HIS COMMAND 
THEREIN — ORGANIZATION OF THE WESTERN VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN — PROC- 
LAMATIONS TO THE PEOPLE AND TROOPS. 

McClellan returned to duty at West Point after the 
return from Europe in the spring of 1857. His mere routine 
duties becoming irksome, and no prospect offering of serving 
his country in an active capacity, he resigned his commission 
in the United States army to accept the position of Chief 
Engineer and Vice-President of the Illinois Central Railway — 
one of the most important and extensive railway corporations 
in this country of gigantic enterprises. This company, pos- 
sessing a landed interest such as no earthly potentate could 
call his own, required, in its care and development, a degree 
of executive skill which few men possessed. Casting about 
for the proper person to assume the trust, the New York 
capitalists found in Captain McClellan the man for their wants, 
and, after negotiations extending through the fall of 1856, the 
arrangement was consummated, giving him the position named. 
He resigned from the army to enter at once upon duty. 

The service with the Illinois Central Railroad extended to 
August, 1860— thirty-one months, during which time his entire 
energies and abilities were bestowed upon both the physical 
and financial interests of the vast corporation. His energy, 
like the spirit of vitality in the human body, electrified the 
body corporate to a remarkable degree. Town-sites, high- 
ways, depots, manufactories, mills, along the line and upon 
the lands of the company, became such features of " the 
West" as to challenge the " march of empire" and bid it stay 
there. The prosperity of Illinois, in consequence, grew to be 
a source of general comment, and its vast prairies became the 
dwelling-places of the invading tide of emigrants from the 
old States and from Europe. 



SUCCESSFUL RAILROAD MANAGEMENT. 85 

The success of his management* pointed him out as the 
man to save from bankruptcy and ruin that great enterprise, 
the Ohio and Mississippi Rail way f— an " air line," six foot 
gauge railroad from Cincinnati to St. Louis. After various 
abortive attempts to render the road any thing but a constant 
loss, its general superintendency was committed to him, 
September 1st, 1860. In November, the same year, he assumed 
also the Presidency of the Eastern Division. Taking into 
consideration the eminent talent which had been brought to 
bear in the Board of Directors of the road, the mere election 
to these responsible trusts is a sufficient evidence of his own 
great administrative ability. The history of commercial enter- 
prise in this country does not present a parallel case in which 
one so young was given the management of such important 
trusts. 

The alarmed state of the country during the fall and 
winter of 1860-61 allowed little opportunity for carrying for- 
ward his schemes in regard to the road. He saw, with a 
prophet's eye, that war was not far distant ; and, though 
a Democrat — opposed in politics to the incoming admin- 
istration — though a warm personal friend of Jefferson Davis,t 
and imbued with much of the "Southern" sentiment 
which ever has prevailed in both army and navy — he, at an 
early moment, resolved to stand by the Constitution and the 
Union to the last. At the first call to arms he was prepared 
to respond. Although his relations with the railway under 
his charge were of an extremely delicate and responsible 
nature, with the ardor of a true citizen he allowed no claim to 
stand in the way of service to his country, in its hour of 
peril. He tendered his resignation to the Receiver in May, 

* Documents on tile at the company's office in New York city attest the 
high consideration in which he was held by the directory. 

t The documents attendant upon the negotiation for him to accept the 
presidency of the road are on file at the company's office, 88 Wall street, 
New York. 

t Among the duties confided to McClellan hy Davis as Secretary of War 
during the Pierce administration, was one named by the press as " a 
secret service to the West Indies." The nature of that service (performed 
in the fall of 1854) has not transpired ; if any records of it exist they are in 
the secret archives of the War Department. It is intimated, however, that, 
under cover of an attempt to purchase one of the Bahamas there was a 
subtle scheme of aggrandizement looking toward Cuba. As McClellan 
acted under instructions, it is not probable that he was made aware of the 
ultimate objects of his personal and unobserved survey of harbors and 
strategic positions among the islands. 



86 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

but the resignation was not accepted ; he still is President of 
the road. 

Ill the first call for volunteers Ohio Avas required to furnish 
thirteen regiments, and the Governor of that State was author- 
ized to commission its own officers. By legislative act of 
April 23d, 1861, the Governor was authorized to commission 
one Major-General and three Brigadiers. McClellan was imme- 
diately named Major-General. From the one hundred and 
one candidates for that post of honor he was chosen by the 
Governor in the exercise of a wise discretion which cast aside 
partisan claims and looked only to supreme fitness. The 
appointment was at once satisfactory and popular, and 
McClellan entered upon one of the most severe and trying 
ordeals of his career — that of bringing an army immediately 
into the field chiefly composed of men who had never seen 
service, while arms, equipments, quartermaster arrangements, 
clothing, etc., were almost entirely to be created. 

" Within two days after receiving the President's proclama- 
tion of April 15th," Governor Dennison said, " the First and 
Second Regiments of Ohio Volunteers were on their way to 
Washington." This betrays the spirit which prevailed in 
Ohio. Out of such a people it was only a question of a few 
weeks to create an arniy. The remainder of the thirteen 
regiments went into camp near Columbus for equipment, 
organization and drill ; and were, in the course of two 
months, reentered as three years volunteers. The nine regi- 
ments specially authorized by the Legislature for a reserve 
were soon called into service, for McClellan had resolved to 
push the war into the enemy's own country, and the Western 
Virginia campaign followed. It was these nine regiments 
which McClellan first commanded. He called upon Govern- 
ment for officers from the regular army, and soon found him- 
self in possession of troops of which any commander might 
well be proud. 

Governor Dennison, in his message (January 6th, 1861), 
says : — " I united with the Governors of Pennsylvania, Indiana 
and Illinois, in asking that the States of Ohio, Indiana and 
Illinois be joined with Western Pennsylvania and Western 
Virginia in a military department, to be under the command 
of Major-General McClellan, who would be enabled, with the 



OPENING OF THE WESTERN VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN. 87 

force derived from these States, to preserve navigation on the 
Ohio river, and remove the danger of raids from its borders." 
This request was seconded by the General Government, the 
department created, and McClellan placed in chief command 
therein. 

The "Western Virginia campaign was quickly matured. 
The quick eye of the military man saw and appreciated the 
needs of a rapid service in expelling the oppressors from the 
region west of the Blue Kidge — thus to instate the new loyal 
government then determined upon by the Wheeling Conven- 
tion. The arrangements for the campaign were matured 
during May. On the 26th of that month the following 
proclamation was issued : 

'' Head- QUARTERS, Department of Ohio, ) 
" Cincinnati, May 26, 1861. \ 

To the Union Men of Western Virginia : 

"Virginians: — The General Government has long enough 
endured the machinations of a few factious rebels in your midst. 
Armed traitors have in vain endeavored to deter you from 
expressing your loyalty at the polls. Having failed in this 
infamous attempt to deprive you of the exercise of your dearest 
rights, they now seek to inaugurate a reign of terror, and thus 
force you to yield to their schemes, and submit to the yoke of 
the traitorous conspiracy dignified by the name of the Southern 
Confederacy. They are destroying the property of citizens of 
your State, and ruining your magnificent railways. The Gene- 
ral Government has heretofore carefully abstained from sending 
troops across the Ohio, or even from posting them along its 
banks, although frequently urged by many of your prominent 
citizens to do so. 

"It determined to await the result of the State election, 
desirous that no one might be able to say that the slightest 
effort had been made from this side to influence the free expres- 
sion of your opinions, although the many agencies brought to 
bear upon you by the rebels were well known. You have now 
shown, under the most adverse circumstances, that the great 
mass of the people of Western Virginia are true and loyal to 
that beneficent Government under which we and our fathers 
have lived so long. As soon as the result of the election was 
known, the traitors commenced their work of destruction. The 
General Government can not close its ears to the demand you 
have made for assistance. I have ordered troop^ to cross the 
river. They come as your friends and brothers; as enemies 
only to armed rebels who are preying upon you. Your homes, 
your families and your property are safe under our protection. 
All your rights shall be religiously respected. 



88 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

" Notwithstanding all tliat lias been said by tlie traitors to 
induce you to believe our advent among you will be signalized 
by an interference with your slaves, understand one thing 
clearly : Not only will we abstain from all such interference, 
but we will, on the contrary, with an iron hand, crush any 
attempt at insurrection on their part. 

" Now that Ave are in your midst, I call upon you to fly to 
arms and support the General Government; sever the connec- 
tion that binds you to traitors ; proclaim to the world that the 
faith and loyalty so long boasted by the Old Dominion are still 
preserved in Western Virginia, and that you remain true to the 
Stars and Stripes. G. B. McClellai^, 

"Major-General Commanding." 

To his soldiers he addressed a proclamation couched in 
language calculated to reassure the suspicious and sensitive 
people that the rights and property of those loyal to the 
Government were to be respected. He said : 

"Soldiers: — You are ordered to cross the frontier and to 
enter on the soil of Virginia. Your mission is to restore peace 
and confidence; to protect the majesty of the law and to secure 
our brethren from the grasp of armed traitors, I place under 
the safeguard of your honor the persons and property of the 
Virginians. I know you will respect their feelings and all their 
rights, and will preserve the strictest discipline. 

" Remember, that each one of you holds in his keeping the 
honor of Ohio and the Union. If you ai-e called to overcome 
armed opposition I know your courage is equal to the task. 
Remember that your only foes are arined traitors. Show mercy 
even to them, when in your power, for many of them are 
misguided. 

"When, under your protection, the loyal men of Western 
Virginia have been enabled to organize and form until they can 
protect themselves, you can return to your homes with the 
proud satisfaction of having preserved a gallant people from 
destruction." 



THE ATTACK ON PHILIPPI. 89 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE WESTERX VIRGINIA CAMPAIGX. 



The Western Virginia campaign opened simultaneously 
with the issue of the proclamation. Sunday night Colonel 
Kelly, in command of the troops at Camp Carlisle, near 
Wheeling, gave the word for a forward movement. Early 
Monday morning the troops poured into Wheeling and 
embarked on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for Grafton. 
At Warrington the railway bridges over Buffalo creek were 
found to be destroyed. After various delays, and greatly to 
the terror of the secessionists, the federal troops occupied 
Grafton on Thursday — the rebel troops in occupancy of the 
place having previously withdrawn to Philippi, where they 
made a stand, in strong force. The attack on Philippi was 
pressed with rapidity. Brigadier-General Thomas A. Morris 
was ordered by McClellan to surprise the enemy by a forced 
march. On the night of June 2d two divisions were started 
from Grafton to Philippi — twenty-four miles distant. One 
division, commanded by Colonel Kelly, moved east by way of 
railroad to Thornton — thence by march to the point of attack. 
It consisted of the First Virginia and parts of the Sixteenth 
Ohio and Seventh Indiana regiments. The second division, 
under command of Colonel E. Dumont, proceeded by way of 
Webster. It consisted of eight companies of the Seventh 
Indiana, four companies of the Sixth Indiana, seven compa- 
nies of the Fourteenth Ohio. The surprise was complete. 
The enemy, under Colonel G. A. Porterfield, numbering one 
thousand nine hundred and forty men, were driven from 
their camp, deserting large amounts of equipage, arms, stores, 
etc., in their rout, and leaving fifteen dead behind them. 
Colonel Kelly, in the assault, was wounded. Colonel Lander 
served the artillery in Colonel Dumont's division, and opened 
the attack in front. The design comprehended the " bagging" 
of the entire force of the enemy, but the dreadful storm which 
raged during the night, and the almost pitch darkness which 
followed, prevented Colonel Kelly from reaching the enemy's 
rear in season to cut off his retreat. 



80 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

From Philippi the enemy fell back toward Beverly, taking 
position on Laurel Hill, which they proceeded to fortify. 
While steps were being taken to crowd the campaign in this 
section, McClellan was operating in another direction, with 
the 'evident design of reaching Winchester, in the rear of 
Harper's Ferry, in order to cut off the enemy's retreat from 
that strong position, as well as to cut off reinforcements for 
their army operating at Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain. The 
success of his strategy proved him to possess a mind for 
command, and directed all eyes to him as one of the ablest 
Generals in the field. General Scott, it is understood, simply 
expressed his wishes in the matter, leaving McClellan to 
pursue his own course. 

Of the operations which succeeded the occupation of 
Philippi to the defeat of the rebel General Garnett — a defeat 
which relieved all of the northern portion of Western Vir- 
ginia from the presence of the enemy — we may avail ourselves 
of a narrative prepared by one who participated in the 
campaign : 

" The rebel forces, after the battle of Philippi, lay at Laurel 
Hill, near Beverly, in a strong position, which commanded 
our road to the southern portion of the State, and in which 
they had fortified themselves with great labor and care. 
From this point they had repeatedly threatened us with 
attack, and our oflicers felt very eager to repeat the action by 
which the campaign had been so successfully opened at 
Philippi. A plan was formed, therefore, to move down from 
our head-quarters at Graflon and capture or destroy the 
enemy. The fortifications at Laurel Hill had, however, 
greatly strengthened a position of the most advantageous 
kind, and the attack was not to be lightly undertaken, 

" On the side of the Laurel Mountain lies a fine, broad and 
cleared plateau, which afforded ample room for an encamp- 
ment and a parade-ground in the rear. The slopes in front 
down to the valley were fortified with a more extended 
system of intrenchments, which our men are now engaged in 
destroying, and which were so complete as almost to defy a 
direct attack by any force at our command. It was resolved, 
therefore, to combine with the direct assault a movement in 
the enemy's rear, for which the shape of the country afforded 



SURRENDEIl OF COLONEL PEGRAM. 91 

peculiar facilities. Stretcliing away, north-east and south- 
west, lay the western range of the Alleghanies, impassable 
without great difficulty for an army, and even then passable 
only at certain points. At the foot of the mountain was the 
main road, which gives access to Southern Virginia on this 
western slope of the range. By this route alone could the 
enemy receive reinforcements or supplies, and this fact deter- 
mined the scheme of operations. To occupy his attention by 
a direct attack in front, while another body of our forces 
should go around into his rear, and cut ojBT communication 
with his base, would place him at our mercy, and enable us 
to assail him in his intrenchments with an overpowering force 
and in both directions at once, or else to starve him out, 
should it be deemed best not to conclude the affair by a 
direct engagement. 

*' The plan thus formed was executed by the two divisions 
of General McClellan's army. The main body often thousand, 
led by himself, went round by Clarksburg and Buckhannon, 
on the west of the enemy ; while the other and smaller 
division of four thousand, under General Morris, made the 
direct attack, which was to hold the rebels in check on the 
north, and occupy them while the former force should be 
getting into their rear. 

" General McClellan, after a sharp skirmish at Buckhannon, 
approached the rear of the enemy, which, however, he found 
strongly ibrtified at Rich Mountain, and defended by a force 
of some two or three thousand under Colonel Pegram. 
Sending General Rosecrans with a force of some three thou- 
sand to assail them in the rear, while he was himself to attack 
them in front, he hoped to capture the enemy entirely ; but 
some want of cooperation took place which interfered with 
the completeness of the result. General Rosecrans reached 
the rear of the mountains, which was held by some three 
hundred rebels, but did not succeed in communicating to 
General McClellan the information that he was ready to 
attack, and the command of McClellan lay inactive for many 
hours, waiting for this intelligence. Hence, though the attack 
of Rosecrans was entirely successful upon the small force 
before him. Colonel Pegram took the alarm, and silently 
moved off with his main body to join Garnett at Laurel Hill. 



92 THE LIFE OP GEORaR B. MC CLELT-AN. 

He found it impossible, however, to do so, and after lying in 
the woods for two days, utterly destitute of provisions, was 
obliged to surrender with all those of his troops who had not 
succeeded in getting away. This successful move captured or 
killed about one thousand or perhaps twelve hundred rebels. 
" Meanwhile, the division of General Morris was cautiously 
making its way down upon the enemy from Grafton and 
Philippi. The command of the advance brigade was given 
by General Morris to his chief engineer oflScer, Captain 
Benham, of the United States Topographical Engineers, an 
officer of great experience and skill, whose judgment had 
before been tested by the conduct of several difficult operations. 
Captain Benham had thoroughly explored and mapped the 
country, and his accurate delineations of the topography had 
given essential aid in the planning of the expedition. AVhen 
General McClellan's order was received to march upon Laurel 
Hill, Captain Benham arranged the plan of the march, and 
started at two a. m. on the 7th of July. By skillfully availing 
himself of the peculiarities of the fcountry, he avoided the 
necessity of thrice fording a stream, as had been supposed 
necessary by the commanding General, in order to avoid 
defiles Mdiere effective resistance might be offered ; and thus 
brought the army to its designated position some two hours 
earlier than would have been possible otherwise, to the com- 
plete surprise of the enemy. Here a position was chosen at 
Beelington, on the opposite side of the valley from Laurel 
Hill, and within rifle-shot of the enemy's intreuchments ; and, 
notwithstanding repeated attacks and skirmishes with the 
enemy, it was successfully fortified and held till the approach 
of the other column, 

" Upon the overthrow of Colonel Pegram at Rich Mountain, 
General Garnett, the rebel commander, began to understand 
the extent of his danger, and made haste to extricate himself 
from a position in which he could no longer fight with 
advantage, nor even retreat with success. He left his 
inlrenchments, and moved at once south toward Beverly, 
hoping, by great expedition, to reach that place before General 
McClellan should arrive. But by the time he had got within 
a few miles of it the fugitives from Pegram's corps informed 
him that the effort was hopeless. Beverly was occupied in 



PURSUIT OP GENERAL GARNETT. 93 

force by the Union troops. His only remaining resource Tvas 
to turn upon his steps, and retrace his path to Leedsville, 
where another turnpike road branched off to the north-east, 
on the other side of Laurel Mountain. Pursuing this route 
with all speed, he passed Leedsville the same afternoon, and 
pressed on along the base of the mountains down the Cheat 
river, hoping to find some practicable path across the mount- 
ains into the valley of Virginia. Throwing away, therefore, 
all superfluous baggage, he fled rapidly, and soon turned off 
from the main road into a narrow path along the mountains, 
in which pursuit might be more easily obstructed. Here he 
closed the narrow path after him, and filled every defile 
through which he passed, by felling the largest trees into and 
across it. 

" His flight, however, which took place on Thursday even- 
ing, was ascertained on Friday morning by some of our men 
at Laurel Hill ; and on word being sent to General Morris, 
he gave immediate orders for pursuit, though his force was 
greatly inferior to that of the enemy. Following with the 
somewhat larger portion himself, he sent Captain Benham 
forward w^ith the advance division, giving him orders to press 
forward after the rebels as far as Leedsville, secure the ford 
at that place, and await his arrival. Captain Benham set out 
instantly ; at first with caution, for it might be only a feint to 
draw us on into an attack ; but on reaching the intrenchments 
they were found entirely deserted, and the Captain had the 
pleasure to be the first officer within the abandoned works. 
The command pressed on to Leedsville ?ind there halted, 
according to orders. This order to halt was unfortunate ; 
had Captain Benham been authorized to advance further, a 
more effectual pursuit might have been made ; but held back 
by positive directions, he was compelled to wait — his men 
under arms and ready to resume the pursuit — till General 
Morris arrived at ten p. m. It was then too late to move till 
morning ; the men must have some rest ; and they were 
allowed a brief slumber of three hours, from eleven in the 
evening till two a. m., when the pursuit was eagerly resumed." 

The pursuit was a memorable one. Captain Benham led, 
with one thousand eight hundred men, composed of Ohio and 
Indiana troops. General Morris followed with the rear. Up 



94: THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

and clown the mountains, through defiles and over rugged 
ridges, everywhere impeded by the obstructions thrown in the 
way by the flying enemy — the pursuit was pressed with an 
ardor which was not to be repressed. Many men fell behind, 
exhausted with hunger and exertion. 

" At length, after crossing one of the branches of Cheat 
river, we saw before us the provision-train of the rebels at 
rest; but a foolish boy firing his musket set it in motion 
again in full retreat, and brought out two heavy regiments to 
protect it, before our first regiment could reach the ford. 
This caused a further pursuit of three or four miles, when the 
train was again overtaken half across the stream ; and here 
General Garnett made a vigorous stand for its defense. 

" The locality afforded a fine position to repel our assault. 
Cheat river, in one of its numerous bends, winds here round 
a bluff of fifty or sixty feet high, the lower portion of which 
is covered with a dense growth of laurel, through which it is 
almost impossible to penetrate. On the top of this bluff he 
placed his cannon, which swept our approach to the ford ; 
while his troops were drawn up in line — some two thousand 
in number — on either side of their guns, in a line some four 
hundred feet in length, with the remainder of his force within 
a mile. They were well protected from our fire by a fence, 
which showed only their heads above it„ and by numerous 
trees which afforded them cover. 

" On coming up. Colonel Dumont's men, the Seventh 
Indiana regiment, pressed into the stream, crossed it, and 
attempted to scale the bluff in front, in face of the enemy's 
fire of musketry and artillery, but the steepness of the ascent 
rendered it impossible. When Captain Benham came up he 
found the men climbing the steep ascent almost on their faces ; 
and, seeing the difficulty of success, he ordered them down 
again into the stream. On our right was a depression in the 
bluff, just where a ravine came down to the river, and he 
directed them to try the ascent there. They did so, but 
found the way so steep, and so obstructed by the dense cedar 
roots, that they soon found this, too, impossible. Captain 
Benham then ordered the regiment to cross the stream, and, 
keeping in its bed, immediately under the bluff, to pass down 
it to our left, where they could gain the road. This happy 



UTTEK ROUT OF THE ENEMY. 95 

maneuver was immediately executed. The men passed down 
the whole front of the enemy, protected so effectually by the 
steepness of the bank from his fire that they emerged on the 
right of the rebels without losing a man ; and as the head of 
the column showed itself on their flank the rebels fled, leaving 
one of their guns and a number of killed, wounded and 
prisoners in our hands. 

" About a quarter of a mile in advance the river makes 
another turn ; and here the enemy again attempted a stand. 
General Garnett himself bravely stood, and tried to gather his 
men around him, but in vain. He then begged for thirty 
Bkirmishers to go back with him and pick off our ofllcers — as 
we were informed by our prisoners subsequently. A few did 
return with him to the bank of the stream ; but, as we came 
up, they fired a volley and again fled, and left him with only 
a single companion. Our men ran forward to the bank of 
the stream, where a group of three cedars gave them a slight 
cover, and fired upon the fugitives. General Garnett was 
standing with his back to us, trying in vain to rally his men, 
when he received a Minie ball just on the left of the spine. 
,It made a terrible wound, piercing the heart and coming out 
at the right nipple, and the poor General threw up his arms, 
and with his single companion fell dead. Our men passed 
over, and finding by the straps on his shoulder that he was 
an officer of rank, sent word back immediately to the com- 
manding officer. Captain Benham was still at the bluff, 
caring for the wounded and directing the removal of the 
cannon, but on receiving the news he at once rode forward to 
the spot, and himself first identified the body as that of General 
Garnett, late Major Garnett, U. S. A. 

" The body, which had remained undisturbed, was carried, 
by Captain Benham's order, into a small log-house, where the 
General's money was taken from his pockets and counted, 
and, with his watch and sword, preserved for his family ; his 
field telescope, an elegant opera-glass, a large map of Virginia, 
and some small sketches of our own positions near Grafton, 
became the legitimate trophies of the conqueror." 

The rout of the enemy was utter. Of about five thousand 
troops with which Garnett had left his intrenchments, only 
about two thousand escaped, in a disorganized and demoralized 



96 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 

condition, to the east. For several days small parties came 
in, exhausted and hungry, to accept such terms as the 
Unionists were willing to give — terms which were then 
deemed humane and proper, but which afterward were 
regretted, as most of those released on parole, or on their 
taking the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government and 
laws, were soon in arms again against their country.* 

This defeat of Garnett was the salvation of the Union 
movement in Western Virginia, and left the Wheeling 
Legislature to pursue in jpeace its proceedings of reorganiza- 
tion of the State. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CONCLUSIOX. 

The disaster which befell the federal forces at Bull Run so 
changed the aspect of alEfairs as to make it apparent that an 
almost entire reorganization of the military was necessary. 
Flushed with the confidence of superiority in numbers, our 
people (and Congressmen in particular) believed it only neces- 
sary to march upon the enemy to secure victory. Against 
this impatience and overweening confidence General Scott 
struggled. The old soldier and wise leader conceived time 
to be necessary in order to render his vast army of volunteers 
soldiers in the true sense of the word. While he ordered as 
rapid a prosecution of the campaign as seemed consistent with 
a safe progress, he conceived it premature to press the advance 
upon Richmond and down the Mississippi. But, even his 
prudence could not withstand the desire for an advance 
pressed upon him by Congressmen and the press of the 
country, and the movement was ordered. McDowell pushed 
forward to assail the enemy in front, while Patterson, with a 
force of twelve thousand strong — having already taken a 
strategic position at Harper's Ferry for the combined move- 

* This infamous disregard of oaths and honor was happily illustrated 
in the sarcasm of a Captain in one of the Ohio regiments. A rattlesnake 
was caught alive on the mountains and brought into camp. Alter tiring 
of its presence its captor asked the Captain what he should do with the 
reptile. " Oh, swear him and let him go !" was the curt reply. 



APPOINTED COMMANDEH-TN-CHit::: 97 

ment — was to assail Johnson's force (which reaik constituted ■ 
the enemy's left wing), thus to prevent Beauregard's "nforce- 
ment, as well as to threaten his rear. The hibtoiy of t^e 
country has to record that McDowell won a yictoiy ; and 
then, at the last hour, when the rebel Commander-iii-Chief 
had ordered a retreat,* lost it by the arrival on the field ofnll 
of Johnson's forces, whom Patterson had not only not engrigr^.i 
but liad not even pursued. This reinforcement turnea a 
victory into a disastrous defeat. The federal soldiers, exhausted 
with their two days of terrible fighting, became panic-stricken 
from some cause only known in the calendar of mysteries, and 
fled to the Potomac intrenchments in a state of disorder which 
really resulted in the total demoralization of the army — then 
largely composed of the three-months troops, whose terms of 
„enlistment were rapidkr expiring. 

In its dismay at siibli a reverse, the country looked around 
for a leader, young and strong, who should enter the field as 
acting commander, and, by as direct contact withnran -&^- 
officers, bring 'order and efficiency once more out of that 
chaos. ' All eyes turned *to McClellan, and, with General 
Scott's hearty assent, Ife was called to the responsible post. 
August 1st saw him at the capital, and not a week had passed 
before the stringent measures of a strict disciplinarian began 
to be felt. The first steps were to compel officers to return 
to their posts— then to inspire them with the spirit 6f military 
obedience and promptness toward superiors which they were 
only too eager to exact of their own men. This was a neces- 
sary step for the rigid discipline and accountability which, er^ 
long, followed ; and the country witnessed, with pleasure and 
a feeling of relief, an army grow up under the General-in- 
Chief's hands to which it would-be safe to trust the fate of 
the campaign on the^ Potomac. 

McClellan continued his labors of reorganization, discipline 
and general direction of the army of the Potomac up to Novem- 
ber 1st, when the resignation of Lieutenant- General Scott left 
him the virtual acting. Commander-in-Chief of the entire Union 
forces. The President is, by the Constitution, Commander- 
in-Chief; the Secretary of War is his next in authority; 
but the direction^of the forces in the field is left, almost 
* See Beauregard's speech at a dinner in Kiclimond, in the fall of 1861, 



98 



THE L'FK OP GEORGE B. MC CLELLAN. 






unrestricted^}': to the General-in-Chief. That McClellan has 
fulfill'.'cl, in n complete manner, the expectations of the country • 
is couce^ Led. A fevr fiictionists, never so happy as when 
assaili/.g character or exciting animosities, inveig-hed strongly' 
against the policy pursued by the General-in-Chief; but, wise. ., 
enough to plan and carry forward a mighty campaign, he ^ 
was, also, patient enough to withstand, without a murmur, - 
the attacks of the "On to Kichmond" factionists. His final* ' 
triumph has been too complete to render worthy of notice the JP 
fault-finding of newspaper paragraphists, whose self-aSsurauce I 
is, alas ! one of the leading characteristics of much American 
journalism. 



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